Not really. Your car, cat, dog, or pink flamingo lawn ornament are considered property. Different laws apply.
Speaking of intent, this girl's intent was to learn to drive. her father's intent was to teach. No harm was intended. She lost control of the car and he failed to retain control if the situation. He is civilly and criminally liable for this young mother's death.
I agree that what the father did was wrong, but to put him in jail for something that he (and many other parents in the country) thought would be a simple "...lightly press on the gas pedal, drive in a few circles, ok now stop, put it in park and switch seats..." type of deal.
But what really annoys me about this situation is the way Abraham is going all pit-bull over it. There are for more pressing matters going on in the city that need her attention, this is something that should just be a citation and appearence in traffic court.