On Thursday, a tragic incident unfolded as a barreling car plowed through a boat club in Michigan, claiming the lives of two siblings at a birthday party. The mother, Mariah Dobbs, and her son Jayden, who were also at the party, sustained severe injuries.
Following this heartbreaking event, just two days later, a lawsuit was filed. It alleged that the bar where the suspect, Marshella Chidester, had been served had shown negligence by providing alcohol to a visibly intoxicated individual.
As reported by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at Swan Boat Club in Berlin Charter Township, south of Detroit, around 3 p.m. that Saturday afternoon.
The tragic event resulted in the loss of 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and her 4-year-old brother, Zayn Phillips. Additionally, Mariah Dobbs and her 11-year-old son suffered critical injuries in the accident. As legal proceedings unfolded, Marshella Chidester faced charges of second-degree murder, operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, and other related charges.
Family members of the victims expressed their anguish and loss during Chidester’s arraignment with heart-wrenching statements and emotional pleas for justice. Chidester’s attorney contended that she had consumed a minimal amount of alcohol hours before the incident and attributed the crash to a seizure that overwhelmed her while driving.
Despite this defense, reports indicated that Chidester’s blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit, heightening concerns about the dangers posed by impaired driving.
The judge presiding over the case set her bond at $1.5 million, with the next court date scheduled for April 30.