Siblings die in kid b’day party ‘DUI
Two young siblings were killed and 13 other people were injured when a suspected drunken driver plowed through a children’s birthday party at a Michigan boat club.
The horror unfolded Saturday around 3 p.m. when a 66-year-old woman crashed 25 feet through the Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township, where the kids and their parents were enjoying the festivities, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said.
“The scene was described by the first responders as extremely chaotic, with high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” he said.
An alarming video shows the woman’s blue SUV speeding through the club’s parking lot and smashing into the back wall of the building, narrowly missing a lamp post.
A plume of debris can be seen exploding out of the corner of the video frame, cutting off the catastrophic damage the allegedly drunken woman caused.
An 8-year-old girl named Lana and her 5-year-old brother Zayn died at the scene, police and family members said.
Three children and six adults — including the siblings’ oldest brother and mother — were taken to hospitals by two helicopters or ambulances, some with life-threatening injuries.
Others injured were treated at the scene, and some of them were taken to hospitals by private vehicles.
Driver cooperating
Police did not identify the driver, but said she had been taken into custody on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
She was cooperating with authorities and likely would face more charges as the investigation continues, according to Goodnough.
“There was a terrible accident at Swan today with many injuries, and much damage to the pavilion. Please keep all the people and families in attendance in your prayers,” the boat club said on Facebook.