Baylee Dion was born on April 24, 2012 – a day her mom says she will never forget.
“She was perfect,” said Denise Dion.
But on Nov. 27, 2012 tragedy struck. Dion got her older son, Ryan, 10, on the bus. Then she loaded Baylee, 7 months, and her older sister, Ciera, 4, into the car.
“I took Ciera to Pre-K. After dropping her off, it was just Baylee and I. We had to get gas and diapers before picking Ciera back up. We went to Doogies gas station and filled up my gas tank. Afterwards we made a right onto Route 20 in Irving and headed towards Walmart for diapers.”
Baylee and her mom only got as far as right before Signals gas station when Danielle Kellogg crossed over the double yellow lines so fast in her SUV and crashed into their car.
“My 7-month-old baby was taken by ambulance to Lake Shore Hospital where she died. I was flown by Mercy Flight to ECMC with broken ribs and a broken heart.”
Kellogg was found to be twice the legal limit on alcohol and had cocaine and marijuana in her system. She received the maximum sentence of 15 years as it was not her first DWI. She’s up for parole Jan. 15.
Baylee would have been 5 years old this year. While every day is hard for Dion without her, she says what helps get her through is keeping Baylee’s memory alive.
“I have amazing support from family and friends. Doing anything that keeps her memory alive helps get me through. We’ve helped out MADD and made Baylee bears for ambulances. We also did a diaper drive for a baby ministry.”
