Shannon L. Baierl, 32 faces felony charges for drunk driving that caused the death of an infant. Family and friends mourn the loss of seven month old, Karen Garcia.

On August 24, 2007, Shannon L. Baierl was driving while intoxicated. Her blood alcohol level was 0.27%, more than three times the Wisconsin legal limit of 0.08. Allegedly, she crossed over the centerline while driving southbound and continued heading south on northbound Highway 175. The car she was driving collided with another vehicle, a Chrysler LaBaron. The passengers of the LaBaron were severely injured. The driver, 21 year-old, Antonio Zarate was severely injured. Anahi Garcio and Crecensio Peres were also injured. The littlest passenger, 7 month-old Karen Garcia sustained mortal injuries and died two days later at Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee. Ms. Baierl has pleaded no contest to homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle.    

Approximately 6 children are killed and 700 children are injured every day in car crashes. Nearly 21% of children that are killed in car accidents die from drivers that are operating vehicles while over the legal blood alcohol level. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm & http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5304a2.htm & http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/2002chdfacts.pdf).