A deadly crash occurred at the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County, Michigan, when a suspected drunk driver drove through the building during a kids’ birthday party, resulting in the deaths of a 5-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister.
The crash occurred on Saturday around 3 p.m. in Berlin Charter Township, approximately 30 miles south of Detroit. According to Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough, a 66-year-old woman drove her vehicle through an exterior wall, traveling 25 feet inside the building.
The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested on charges of operating while intoxicated and causing death. She is said to have been cooperative with authorities. Goodnough reported that a total of 15 people sustained injuries, with nine individuals in critical condition, including three children, who were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals. The chaotic scene prompted emotional responses from witnesses and first responders.
Law enforcement officers suspect that the driver had recently left a nearby tavern. Deputies closed down the establishment and sought a search warrant for further investigation. A video from a local ABC affiliate, WXYZ, captured the vehicle speeding through a parking lot before crashing into the building, creating a sizable hole on the pavilion’s north side. In a Facebook post, the Swan Boat Club announced its closure on Sunday, expressing condolences for the accident’s victims and their families. The incident remains subject to ongoing investigation.