Mother who drove pickup truck through park sentenced to 10 years

PHOENIX — A mother who drove a pickup truck through a Peoria park full of children was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced on Saturday.

Brandie Gotch, 31, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault for the incident that occurred in February 2024.

“This could’ve been a much more tragic situation,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a release. “Thankfully, the worst injury in this was a sprained ankle and some bad scrapes and bruises.

“Even when angry or frustrated, it’s up to adults to act like adults. It is never okay to take our rage out on a kid.”

Details behind Peoria park incident

Gotch arrived at the park to pick up her kids when the incident took place, as her two kids were apparently fighting with nearby kids egging them on.

After she retrieved her kids and as they were walking back to the truck, a child on the playground called the mom “a name,” according to authorities. She went over to the child and pulled him by his hair before chasing another child with a stick after they also called her “a name.”

Once back in the truck, the second child stayed behind the truck, mocking her and dancing. He then went to his 12-year-old sister.

Gotch then backed out of her parking space, revved her vehicle and drove right at the pair. The boy was able to get out of the way but the sister’s leg was run over.

She then drove through the park — where more than a dozen children were playing — before heading home, where she was later arrested.

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