DETROIT (WWJ) A Detroit woman was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Second-Degree Child Abuse in a crash that killed her four-year-old son, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced.
In a press release; the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said Shaniqua Lashauntae Baskins, 30, allegedly knew she was driving with faulty brakes while her son was unsecured in the car at the time of the crash.
Michigan State Police troopers were called to the scene of the crash on northbound I-75 near Piquette Avenue on May 6th around 1 p.m. When they arrived; they found the child lying in the freeway, unresponsive. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to prosecutors, Baskins was traveling west on I-94 toward northbound I-75 when the brakes on her car gave out. She crossed over the grass median on I-75 and hit another car. The impact ejected her son from the back window, onto I-75— and fatally injured him.
Baskins was arraigned on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Second-Degree Child Abuse on Friday morning in 36th District Court. The judge gave her a $20,000 cash/surety bond—with a bond redetermination hearing set for Monday. She is due back in court for a probable cause conference on November 25th, and a preliminary hearing on December 2nd.