Police: Woman who crashed car killing own child…
Police: Woman who crashed car killing own child had blood alcohol content over 3 times legal limit
47th District Court in Farmington Hills (Aileen Wingblad/MediaNews Group)
By Aileen Wingblad | awingblad@medianewsgroup.com | The Oakland Press
PUBLISHED: August 29, 2022 at 4:47 p.m. | UPDATED: August 30, 2022 at 11:17 a.m.
An Inkster woman accused in a wrong-way drunk driving crash that killed one of her six children in Farmington Hills will be released on personal bond once she can be fitted with an alcohol monitoring tether, a magistrate decided.
Shelby Symone Ellis booking photo
Shelby Symone Ellis, 29, was arraigned Monday before 47th District Magistrate Michael Sawicky on one count of operating while intoxicated causing death and one count of child endangerment for a traffic crash that happened at the intersection of 8 Mile and Inkster roads at around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Police said Ellis was driving northbound in the southbound lane of Inkster Road when she collided with a vehicle driven by a 33-year-old Detroit man traveling westbound on 8 Mile Road.
Ellis was driving with her children ages 10, 7, 5, 3, 18 months and 8 months old when the crash occurred. The 3-year-old was killed in the crash. The child wasn't in a child seat and wasn't seatbelted in, police said.
A preliminary breath test measured Ellis' blood alcohol content at .26 percent, more than three times the legal limit, police said.
Crews from the Farmington Hills Fire Department transported Ellis and her surviving children to Beaumont Hospital in Farmington HIlls for treatment of injuries that weren't life-threatening, police said. The other driver also sought treatment at Beaumont but didn't require medical transport, police said.
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At arraignment, a personal bond of $500,000 was set for Ellis — which means no cash or surety was required for her release. However, Sawicky warned Ellis that if she is caught violating any bond conditions she would be arrested and transported to the Oakland County Jail. Bond conditions include no use of alcohol, illicit drugs, mood or mind-altering substances, and wearing an alcohol monitoring tether. She's also required to comply with investigators from Children's Protective Services who've been brought into the case as well as the county's pretrial services.
If the monitor fitting wasn't available Monday, Ellis was to be transported to Oakland County Jail where it would be fitted on Tuesday.
As stated in court, Ellis is single, attends community college and is employed with a cleaning service at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. She has no criminal history or history of violence.
Ellis' next court appearance is scheduled for a Sept. 7 probable cause conference before 47th District Judge Marla Parker.
In response to the fatal crash, Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King stated: "This is an extremely tragic, yet avoidable incident. This should serve as a stark reminder of the importance of utilizing restraint devices and the dangers of operating a vehicle while impaired."
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the Farmington Hills Police Department Command Desk at 248-871-2610.
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Aileen Wingblad | Multimedia Journalist
Aileen Wingblad's main beat is Oakland County-related crime and court action at the district, state and federal levels. She also covers Michigan's marijuana industry and other stories of interest to readers.
awingblad@medianewsgroup.com