A South Carolina father was sentenced to 28 years in prison Tuesday. The father had left his 19-month-old daughter inside of his burning car while he ran away from the police. Spartanburg County Solicitor’s Office said the man was found guilty of homicide by child abuse and other drug and traffic-related crimes.

Imhotep O. Norman, 28, was stopped by state police in April 2019 for speeding. According to the press statement, Norman drove over a median and onto Interstate 85 with flames and heavy smoke billowing from his vehicle.

Norman leaped out of the flaming vehicle and left his daughter, Xena R. Norman, in her car seat when troopers pulled him to the right lane of the road. According to the press release, Norman later informed investigators that he believed law enforcement officers would come to her rescue.

Norman’s daughter died of severe carbon monoxide poisoning and thermal burns. Norman claimed that during his initial bond hearing that he had no idea that his car was on fire, and he was sure that his daughter would be ok since the police were around.

Normal told the judge that he would have stayed in the car with his daughter or taken her with him if he had known that the car was on fire. He admitted that he had seen sparks coming from under the tires when he tried to stop during the police chase.

At his trial, Norman pleaded guilty to homicide by child abuse, failure to stop for a blue light and siren, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of with intent to distribute amphetamine, possession of oxycodone, and possession of Xanax.