A northern Minnesota woman who cherished being a mother was killed when the car she was riding in crashed with her daughter behind the wheel, according to charges.
Kayla Marie Polaski, 31, of Hermantown was charged in St. Louis County District Court last week with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation in connection with the two-vehicle collision on July 3, 2023, in Hermantown that killed Penny Jean Polaski, 46, of Duluth.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Kayla Polaski. Court records do not list an attorney for her.
A law enforcement test of Polaski’s blood determined she had amphetamine and methamphetamine in her system at the time of the collision.
Polaski’s driving history includes two speeding convictions last year and two for driving while not properly licensed.
Penny Polaski’s obituary, which listed two daughters and a son among her survivors, noted, “She was proud of her career in mental health and residential services, but her favorite position was being a mom, that is what she lived for.”
According to the criminal complaint:
Police were alerted to a crash and determined that Kayla Polaski’s car crossed the double yellow lane lines while heading south on Lavaque Bypass and hit an SUV heading north. Emergency responders declared Penny Polaski dead at the scene. The SUV driver was not seriously injured.
