A man who allegedly stole a mother's car drove away with her baby which he later abandoned on the roadside under a bridge.

Willio Petioma, 35, allegedly stepped into the vehicle that was involved in a traffic collision while the owner was busy exchanging information with the other driver in Broward County, Florida on June 26.

The alleged thief sped away with the owner's three-year-old daughter still in the back seat before briefly pulling over along the way to leave the youngster on the sidewalk.

Dashcam footage shows Willio carrying the baby car seat with the child and leaving it on the roadside. Several drivers rushed to check on the kid when the car driven by WIllio was gone.

Broward County Regional Communications said according to preliminary investigations, the mother tried to stop the theft by clinging to the passenger door but she was fragged along before falling to the ground.

Willio was traced using the mother's credit card at a Family Dollar Store and was caught on June 30.

Officers said he was booked into BSO Main Jail facing multiple charges including kidnapping, carjacking, interference with custody of a minor, and illegal use of credit card.

He was arrested on a warrant from Palm Beach County for charges related to possession of cocaine and resisting an officer.