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Inset: Rachale Francine Peloquin (Ramsey County Jail). Background: The tragic site where Peloquin’s toddler lost his life in Maplewood, Minn. (Google Maps).
A woman from Minnesota faces incarceration after allegedly causing the death of her youngest child by driving her SUV into a water-filled ditch while intoxicated, according to authorities.
Rachale Francine Peloquin, 28, has been charged with a count of criminal vehicular homicide due to negligence while under the influence of alcohol, reported by 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.
On that evening around 6:30 p.m., Peloquin was navigating Highway 36 before making a turn onto Highway 61, as outlined in court documents seen by The Minnesota Star Tribune, and local media outlets Fox affiliate KMSP and ABC affiliate KSTP from St. Paul.
But the mother of three took the exit ramp too fast and lost control, according to an incident report by the Minnesota State Patrol.
The vehicle then overturned and plunged into a nearby swamp, as stated by law enforcement. State troopers arriving at the scene encountered “frantic emergency services personnel” desperately attempting to rescue the child trapped under the vehicle, as per the court documents.
Despite visible injuries, including cuts on her arms and legs, Peloquin repeatedly cried out for her child’s safety as responders endeavored to save him. Ultimately, the Maplewood Fire Department managed to lift the SUV from the water with hydraulic equipment. Sadly, it was too late for 1-year-old Revon Melvin Anthony Todd, who was declared dead at the location.
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.