Officials in southeastern Michigan have identified the 8-year-old girl and her 4-year-old brother who were killed Saturday when a suspected drunk driver plowed through a child’s birthday party at a creekside boat club.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough in a statement Monday identified the children as Alanah Phillips, age 8, and Zayn Phillips, age 4. Diane Harrington, the victims’ aunt, said in a verified fundraiser for family funeral costs that the children’s mother and older brother remained hospitalized. Harrington declined to comment when reached by phone Sunday.
Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey A. Yorkey is expected to announced a final charging decision Tuesday against the 66-year-old driver. The woman, who has not been identified but was cooperating with police, was arrested at the scene Saturday after she slammed her SUV into the side of the Swan Boat Club about 3 p.m. and continued about 25 feet into the building before coming to a stop. The woman was taken into custody for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and causing death.
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Among the nine people hospitalized, an 11-year-old boy and a 31-year-old woman remained in critical condition Monday, three teenagers were listed in serious condition, and five other people were treated for minor injuries, Goodnough’s office said.
Share this articleShare“The scene was described by the first responders as ‘extremely chaotic,’ with [a] high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed the horrific incident,” Goodnough said during a Saturday news conference.
Gasps rippled through the room when Goodnough, in a trembling voice, said the two young party attendees pronounced dead at the scene were siblings.
Six adults and three children were rushed to the hospital by ambulance and helicopter with serious injuries after the crash at the boat club in Berlin Township, roughly 30 miles south of Detroit.
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Video of the crash captured by doorbell camera shows a black SUV speeding through the boat club’s parking lot before crashing out of the frame and sending plumes of smoke and dust into the air.
Authorities said they were investigating a local tavern several miles away, where the suspect was believed to have been served before the fatal crash.
“We went in, we shut the business down, and we executed a search warrant into the business conducted that day,” Goodnough said.
The Swan Boat Club said in a Facebook post that it would remain closed Sunday and asked the community for prayers and support for the victims’ families.
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