A suspected drunk driver ploughed through a children’s birthday at a boat club in the US state of Michigan killing two young siblings and 13 others, US-based newspaper The New York Post said in a report. The video of the incident also went viral on social media.
BREAKING: Drunk driver crashes into children's birthday party in Monroe County, Michigan, killing at least 2 children. 13 injured pic.twitter.com/0zTzyPGGJB— BNO News (@BNONews) April 21, 2024
Authorities said that a 66-year-old woman crashed 25 feet through the Swan Creek Boat Club, which was, at the time of crash, hosting the birthday party with many children and parents attending.
“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 this horrific incident,” Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough was quoted as saying by The New York Post.
The video that went viral on social media showed the woman’s blue SUV speeding through the club’s parking lot and smashing into the back wall of the building. The car narrowly missed hitting a lamp post. In the video shared, a plume of debris can be seen exploding out of the corner of the frame, thereby not showing the extent of the damage caused by the woman.
Police said an eight-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother died at the scene. Helicopters airlifted three children and six adults to hospitals nearby. Authorities said some of them suffered life-threatening injuries.
Emergency responders gave first aid to several attendees at the scene and some were taken to hospitals in private vehicles. Police said the woman was taken into custody on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
Cops did not identify her but said she was cooperating with authorities and likely would face more charges as the probe continues.
The venue that was hosting the party, the Swan Boat Club, announced it is shutting down for the remainder of the weekend in light of the disaster.
“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 in a Facebook post.
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