The woman who endangered her child after the accident was arrested

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – Police arrested a Jonesboro woman after they say she crashed her car while drunk with her two children inside.

On Monday, Craighead County Court Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge Sequoia Chakele Vanpelt with two counts of first-degree child endangerment (a Class D felony). He is also charged with driving while intoxicated and refusing to yield, both misdemeanors.

On the morning of Nov. 16, police responded to a crash at Marion Berry Parkway and Matthews Boulevard. They said the vehicle suffered “substantial disabling damage” and its airbags deployed.

When officers arrived, they found Vanpelt in the driver’s seat, according to court documents.

When arresting her on suspicion of DWI, Vanpelt “asked about her children and stated that they were in the vehicle at the time of the accident,” the affidavit said.

Detective Luke Lane said a review of traffic camera footage showed the boys “getting out of (Vanpelt’s) car and getting into another vehicle.”

Police arrested him and took him to the Craighead County Detention Center, saying “the children were in imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death due to Vanpelt’s actions.”

“After being transported from the scene, Vanpelt refused to submit to chemical testing,” the affidavit said.

Vanpelt remains at CCDC on a $100,000 cash/surety bond.

During Monday’s probable cause hearing, the assistant prosecutor noted that Vanpelt had a prior DWI and requested that he be required to use a blood alcohol content meter if he granted bail, which the judge approved.

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