Parents deny knowing son (4) was riding on car roof

PERTH: The parents of a child filmed riding on the roof of a car as it sped along a busy Western Australian highway say they were ‘‘traumatised’’ by the experience.

Footage of the 4yearold posted to social media on Friday shows the boy clinging to the roof rack of a Holden SUV being driven through Perth’s southern suburbs.

At one point the vehicle enters Tonkin Highway, which has a 100kmh speed limit.

Speaking through a representative yesterday, the family said they were ‘‘shellshocked’’ by the incident.

National Indigenous Critical Response Services national coordinator Gerry Georgatos said the public backlash had ‘‘traumatised’’ the boy’s parents and siblings.

The family said the boy must have climbed on by himself.

He denied the mother knew her son was on the roof, adding it wasn’t until frantic motorists managed to flag her down the woman realised something was wrong.

Police said the car stopped and the boy, wearing only a nappy, was placed inside before the driver was pulled over at a petrol station.

Officers said three children were seen in the car, including a 4yearold boy not wearing restraints. A 36yearold mother of six was facing dangerous driving charges.

Georgatos said people on social media had been making ‘‘wild accusations’’ and ‘‘nearlibellous’’ claims.

‘‘These are salt of the earth, good people.

‘‘They’re just thankful their child is alive and well,’’ Georgatos said.