Inset: Rachale Francine Peloquin (Ramsey County Jail). Background: The fatal turn that took Peloquin’s toddler’s life in Maplewood, Minn. (Google Maps).
A Minnesota woman is behind bars after killing the youngest of her three children by drunkenly crashing her SUV into a water-filled ditch, according to law enforcement.
Rachale Francine Peloquin, 28, stands accused of one count of criminal vehicular homicide – negligence – under the influence of alcohol, according to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening along a highway in Maplewood, a medium-sized city in the Twin Cities metro area.
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At around 6:30 p.m., Peloquon was traveling along Highway 36 when she turned onto Highway 61, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Minnesota Star Tribune, Minneapolis-based Fox affiliate KMSP, and St. Paul-based ABC affiliate KSTP.
But the mother of three took the exit ramp too fast and lost control, according to an incident report by the Minnesota State Patrol.
Then, the Tahoe flipped over and careened into a nearby swamp, according to law enforcement. By the time state troopers arrived, they met with “frantic emergency services personnel” intent on saving the baby trapped under the wreckage, according to the complaint.
Peloquin, visibly injured with cuts on her arms and legs, shouted “save my baby” over and over as personnel worked to save the boy. Eventually, using hydraulic tools, the Maplewood Fire Department was able to extricate the SUV from the water. But, by then, it was too late for 1-year-old Revon Melvin Anthony Todd. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
A state trooper asked the grieving mother what happened. The defendant said she was taking her children to see their grandmother so she could have some free time to herself.
“I’m a single mom and I don’t get a f–ing break,” Peloquin allegedly told the troopers. “I don’t get a break.”
When making the turn, the defendant allegedly stated that she somehow lost control – citing wet driving conditions and somewhat bald tires.
“I don’t know,” Peloquin allegedly told the troopers. “I lost control of the f–ing wheel and it spun the f– out and my baby was under the car. It was slippery from the f–ing rain.” She later allegedly added: “My f–ing wheels are like a little bit f–ing bald.”
Law enforcement, however, says the road was dry that day. They also described an “overwhelming odor of alcohol” on Peloquin’s breath.
The defendant, for her part, allegedly admitted to drinking – but insisted she had last imbibed “a couple of shots” the night before, according to the complaint. Troopers noted the presence of numerous Fireball Cinnamon Whisky shooter-sized bottles on the road, mirroring the Tahoe’s path. Peloquin also allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana on the day of the crash, law enforcement claims.
Peloquin allegedly submitted to a breathalyzer test and blew a 0.172 blood-alcohol content (BAC), according to the complaint.
The legal limit in Minnesota is 0.08 BAC.
Later, in the ride to the Ramsey County Jail, the defendant allegedly changed a substantial aspect of her story, authorities say.
Peloquin was not actually driving, she allegedly said. Rather, the 32-year-old passenger was behind the wheel when the crash occurred, the defendant allegedly said, adding that she initially took responsibility because she owns the vehicle.
That second adult passenger – along with Peloquin’s 5-year-old and 6-year-old children – only suffered minor injuries.
The defendant is being detained in lieu of $250,000 bail, records show.
