Detroit mother charged in fatal I-75 crash that ejected 4-year-old son

DETROIT (FOX 2) – She was involved in an accident that killed her four-year-old child, and now a Detroit mother is charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Shaniqua Baskin was riding her son Ja’Quavious King-Baskin in the backseat unbraked when her brakes failed. She crossed the median on I-75 near I-94 in Detroit and struck another car. Ja’Quavious was ejected and was later found lying on the highway when Michigan State Police arrived.

At the scene, Baskin failed a field sobriety test. Her blood alcohol test results could determine possible charges. Baskin’s 6-year-old daughter was taken from her by child protective services after the accident.

“I’m shocked, I have my child on the ground – of course I can’t walk a straight line. I can barely breathe,” Baskin said. “Anyone who knows Shaniqua knows that Shaniqua doesn’t drink at all.”

Nothing is yet known about her blood alcohol level after the crash. Meanwhile, investigators say Baskin knowingly drove her car with bad brakes while her child was not properly restrained. On Friday, she was charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse. She was given a large bond of $20,000 cash.

“I think it’s a lot in first-degree child abuse. I think it’s a lot,” said attorney Todd Perkins. ‘I’m short of words. I mean, when does a lawyer run out of words?’

Perkins is not involved in this case, but handles almost all of his cases in the 36th District Court, where Baskin was charged. He says she’s being overcharged.

“Based on the press release I’m looking at right now, this is not a criminal act,” he said. “It must be conduct that was reasonably foreseeable so that the outcome would be what was reasonably foreseeable.”

There will be a bond redetermination hearing next week, where Perkins believes she will be granted a personal bond, which will then be released as the case progresses.

“This is a terrible set of circumstances that this young lady will have to live with for the rest of her life,” he said.

There are no additional DUI charges against Baskins as of Nov. 15, even after she failed her field sobriety test following the crash.