Dakota Valkyrie
May 9th, 2009, 11:02 PM
http://i40.tinypic.com/n4yt92.jpgA drunken driver whipped around a cul-de-sac in a Willmar mobile home park, sending her 4-week-old boy in a car seat flying out of the open back door and into the street, police said.
Elaine Velasquez, 22, was arrested soon after the incident Wednesday night and charged Friday with a host of crimes including drunken driving, child endangerment, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
[...]
Jennifer Oothoudt was behind her home when she saw what she called the "horrifying" sequence of events unfold.
"The car seat hit [the street] sideways," said Oothoudt, "and as soon as it hit the ground the baby came out and hit its head on the pavement."
According to police and the criminal complaint:
Before the incident, Velasquez was "cussing back and forth" with a man at a home in the Regency Estates West park. They got into a car, and the baby was placed in a car seat in the back right passenger seat. The car seat was not attached to a car seat belt, and police do not believe that the child was buckled in.
Witnesses reported seeing the car speeding toward the cul-de-sac and then making a left turn that was so hard, the tires squealed, the right back door swung open.
The car seat flew out with the infant still in it. :eek:
Witnesses also told police they heard a baby crying from the pitched car seat as Velasquez and the man continued arguing.http://www.startribune.com/local/44598607.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD 3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Velasquez's sister took the baby to Rice Memorial Hospital, where it was treated for a scrape to the forehead. The child was released to protective custody.
While police were interviewing witnesses, Velasquez returned to the scene, crying and smelling of alcohol.
She admitted to drinking a "40-ouncer" earlier, said she messed up and was sorry and wanted to know how her baby was doing.
A preliminary breath test revealed Velasquez has a blood alcohol content of .125.
Police said the child was not buckled into the car seat and the car seat itself was not secured inside the car. Velasquez claimed the door that opened was faulty and that's how the baby was ejected.
Elaine Velasquez has a prior child restraint violation from August 2008.http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/Willmar_Baby_Ejected_Car_Not_Buckled_May_8_2009
"returned to the scene"??? She didn't notice the door opened and her kid flew out???
Elaine Velasquez, 22, was arrested soon after the incident Wednesday night and charged Friday with a host of crimes including drunken driving, child endangerment, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
[...]
Jennifer Oothoudt was behind her home when she saw what she called the "horrifying" sequence of events unfold.
"The car seat hit [the street] sideways," said Oothoudt, "and as soon as it hit the ground the baby came out and hit its head on the pavement."
According to police and the criminal complaint:
Before the incident, Velasquez was "cussing back and forth" with a man at a home in the Regency Estates West park. They got into a car, and the baby was placed in a car seat in the back right passenger seat. The car seat was not attached to a car seat belt, and police do not believe that the child was buckled in.
Witnesses reported seeing the car speeding toward the cul-de-sac and then making a left turn that was so hard, the tires squealed, the right back door swung open.
The car seat flew out with the infant still in it. :eek:
Witnesses also told police they heard a baby crying from the pitched car seat as Velasquez and the man continued arguing.http://www.startribune.com/local/44598607.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD 3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ
Velasquez's sister took the baby to Rice Memorial Hospital, where it was treated for a scrape to the forehead. The child was released to protective custody.
While police were interviewing witnesses, Velasquez returned to the scene, crying and smelling of alcohol.
She admitted to drinking a "40-ouncer" earlier, said she messed up and was sorry and wanted to know how her baby was doing.
A preliminary breath test revealed Velasquez has a blood alcohol content of .125.
Police said the child was not buckled into the car seat and the car seat itself was not secured inside the car. Velasquez claimed the door that opened was faulty and that's how the baby was ejected.
Elaine Velasquez has a prior child restraint violation from August 2008.http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/Willmar_Baby_Ejected_Car_Not_Buckled_May_8_2009
"returned to the scene"??? She didn't notice the door opened and her kid flew out???