The Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (MCPO) announced Tuesday that a 66-year-old lady is facing various charges, including second-degree murder, after allegedly crashing into a children’s birthday party in Michigan on Saturday.
Marshella Marie Chidester allegedly crashed into the Swan Boat Club in Newport, Michigan, which was hosting a birthday party, according to the MCPO press release. Surveillance footage appeared to show the automobile speeding through the parking lot and into the boat house. According to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the car came to a stop about 25 feet inside the building.
According to the MCSO, an eight-year-old girl and her four-year-old sibling died in the reported crash. At the time of the incident, around 15 individuals, including children and adults, received first assistance.
According to MCPO, the mother of the two children, as well as her 11-year-old son, were critically hurt. An 18-year-old female and a 14-year-old man both sustained significant injuries.
According to MCPO, Chidester is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence resulting in death, and four counts of operating under the influence causing serious harm. She was arraigned in court Tuesday and is being held on a $1.5 million bond.
Chidester’s attorney, Bill Colovos, told NBC News that she lost control of the vehicle during the incident and has a history of epileptic seizures in her legs. Colovos said that Chidester had only one glass of wine roughly four hours before the tragedy.
“This is not a monster,” Colovos stated at the hearing, according to NBC. “What occurred was just horrific. I have two children. It’s totally terrible. But certain things are beyond our control.”
According to NBC, Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffery A. Yorke denied the seizure claim, stating that “her blood alcohol level was significantly higher than the legal limit.”
“There is no indication, whatsoever, in any of the evidence that we have uncovered in this case, that the defendant suffered from a seizure at the time of this incident,” Yorkey was supposed to have stated at the hearing. “She indicated herself that she had some seizure issues and she was on some medication and that she wasn’t supposed to be drinking, but admitted that she had been drinking that day.”
Chidester’s next court appearance is planned for April 30, according to the MCPO.