When MSP troopers arrived, they found Skinner lying face down on the ground unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said Skinner was holding her 1-year-old daughter, Marley, when she was struck. Both were run over.
Miraculously, the child suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but she does have some broken bones. She was taken to a hospital, where she is still recovering.
Investigators said it appears Skinner was on the right side of her Ford Explorer and holding her daughter while either removing or placing another child inside the vehicle. MacDermaid said Skinner was holding her baby while tending to her 5-year-old stepson, preparing for a custody exchange.
“They were doing a custody exchange for her stepson, and it’s just really unfortunate,” MacDermaid told WXYZ. “They were in a parking lot to, you know, do the handoff, so you know, all the family was there.” A Ford pickup truck pulled out of the parking spot next to the family, running over both Skinner and her baby in the process.
“It’s tragic what happened to Sam,” MacDermaid told WXYZ. “I’m grateful that Marley is still with us, of course, but yeah, it’s very telling that Sam obviously protected her baby, and up until that last moment, it’s just a true statement of her character.”
The driver of the pickup truck, a 72-year-old man, stayed on the scene. Troopers interviewed him and said they suspected narcotics impairment. The 72-year-old was arrested, and a blood sample was taken for drug testing. The results are pending.
“It does appear at this time that impaired driving is the cause of this crash,” said F/Lt. Mike Shaw in a statement. “While many drivers are aware of the impacts of alcohol while driving, we continue to remind drivers the same is true for drug impairment. It does not matter if they are prescribed drugs, marijuana or over the counter, they all impact your ability to drive.”
MacDermaid described her cousin as a light to everyone who knew her. “She was born to be a mother. I mean, she was born to be a mother to Marley,” MacDermaid said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses.
