A young sister and brother are dead and several others injured after a suspected drunk driver rammed her vehicle through the wall of a Michigan building on Saturday where a child’s birthday celebration was being held.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported that a 66-year-old suspect plowed a full 25 feet into the Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township. The tragedy occurred some 30 miles from Detroit.
Officials said an eight-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother were killed when the car crashed through the wall. A GoFundMe page established for the family identified the young victims as Lana and Zayn.
Three other children along with six adults with what were described as serious injuries were taken to area hospitals in ambulances and helicopters.
At least 15 people were hurt in the tragedy. The identity of the driver has not been released, but she was arrested by authorities.
🚨#BREAKING: A drunk driver plows through a building as it was hosting a child's birthday party, resulting in fatalities and serious, life-threatening injuries
Multiple law enforcement and emergency personnel, along with medical helicopters, are… pic.twitter.com/rzTDDw5yLB
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 21, 2024
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough was clearly emotional at Saturday night’s press conference. “The scene was just described by the first responders as…extremely chaotic, with high levels of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident.”
Goodnough issued a statement to Fox News Digital describing the horror.
It read, “Preliminary investigation reveals that a vehicle drove through a building where a [child’s] birthday celebration was taking place, seriously injuring a number of people, both children and adults. The victims have been transported to several area hospitals.”
Swan Boat Club announced on Facebook that it is temporarily closing due to the tragedy.
It posted, “In light of the emergency please do not try to come to Swan Boat Club at the moment so emergency vehicles can get through. At this time the club is closed until further notice.”
Authorities said the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and criminal charges are expected to be filed. Officials believe the suspect had been a customer at a nearby bar before crashing into the building hosting the party.
The driver was described as cooperating with the investigation. She was taken into custody on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
