Video from scene shows a large hole on the side of the building where a suspected drunk driver crashed into the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County, Michigan. There was a birthday party inside, killing two kids, ages 5 and 8. (WXYZ/YouTube)
A kids birthday party in Michigan turned tragic when a suspected drunk driver crashed through a boat club killing a 5-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister, authorities said.
It happened around 3 p.m. Saturday in the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Charter Township, about 30 miles south of Detroit. Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said a 66-year-old woman drove through an exterior wall and ended up about 25 feet inside the building. Cops took the woman, who was not publicly identified, into custody on charges of operating while intoxicated while causing death. Additional charges are pending. She was reportedly cooperative with deputies.
Goodnough said 15 people suffered injuries, including nine who were rushed via ambulance or medical helicopters to area hospitals with life-threatening injuries. Of those nine, three were children. Some victims were transported to the hospital via private vehicles. Deputies did not identify the victims.
“The scene was described by the first responders as extremely chaotic with high levels of emotions by those involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” Goodnough said.
Deputies believe the woman had just left a nearby tavern. Goodnough said deputies shut down the business and were in the process of obtaining a search warrant to obtain more information.
A video obtained by local ABC affiliate WXYZ showed a vehicle speeding through a parking lot, moments before crashing into the building. There was a large hole on the north side of the pavilion.
The boat club said in a post on Facebook that it will be closed on Sunday.
“There was a terrible accident at Swan today with many injuries, and much damage to the pavilion,” Commodore Dan Riordan wrote. “Please keep all the people and families in attendance in your prayers.”
The incident remains under investigation.
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