On April 22, 2022, a one-year-old girl was fatally injured in a single-vehicle crash in Oswego County, New York. Her 23-year-old mother was driving with the child as the sole passenger when she lost control of the vehicle, which struck an earth embankment and several trees. The child was properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat in the back of the vehicle but sustained severe head and neck injuries. She was transported to the hospital where she underwent neurosurgery but was pronounced dead at 11:55 PM. The mother was uninjured. Toxicology results revealed the mother had a blood alcohol content of .10%. The mother was subsequently arrested in June 2022 and charged with first degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated, and endangering the welfare of a child. An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force craniocerebral trauma due to car crash, and the manner of death was ruled an accident.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
The fatality report explicitly states: "the mother was driving with the subject child as a passenger, when the mother lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle struck an earth embankment and several trees." The cause of death was "blunt force craniocerebral trauma due to car crash." The news article corroborates this, identifying it as "a one-car fatal crash in April 2022."
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies the mother as the "Alleged Perpetrator" and states she "was driving with the subject child as a passenger, when the mother lost control of the vehicle." She had a blood alcohol content of .10% and was charged with first degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated DWI, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states: "The mother was arrested and charged with first degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated driving while intoxicated, and endangering the welfare of a child." The news article confirms this, stating "Daschalee Nelipowitz, 25, was arrested in June 2022, following an investigation into a one-car fatal crash in April 2022."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "MGF reported SM was hospitalized due to her mental health following SC's death." This explicitly references the mother's mental health status after the child's death.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states "The mother was found to have a blood alcohol content of .10%" and the SCR allegations include "Parents Drug / Alcohol Misuse." The news article further notes that the mother told police on the night of the accident: "I drank a lot of wine last night. It did not impair my driving today. If you find anything in my system, that's why."
Notable Details
Several notable casework and investigative issues are documented. The fatality report states that "OCDSS was asked by LE not to interview the parents without the lead detective present; however, the detective would not be available to do so for several weeks." This significantly delayed the CPS investigation. Multiple casework practice citations were issued: 12 out of 31 progress notes were entered more than one month past event dates; OCDSS did not speak with first responders or hospital staff; and the record did not reflect that the allegations were ever explored with either parent. Despite having sufficient evidence to make a determination, the investigation remained open with no explanation. Additionally, the partially-encoded news article provides context that the mother told police she had reached into the back seat to hand her daughter a toy monkey when she crossed the center line, and that she had just learned she was pregnant again at the time of the accident. The prosecution offered a plea deal for state prison time if she pled guilty to the top charge of vehicular manslaughter.
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