Brother, 5, and Sister, 8, Dead After Intoxicated Driver Crashes Vehicle into Birthday Party

A pair of siblings are dead and at least 15 people are injured after an intoxicated driver crashed a vehicle into a boat club where a child’s birthday party was being held.

In a press conference following the incident, which occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said that the driver was a 66-year-old woman “who will not be identified at this time.”

Officials were dispatched to the crash around 3 p.m. local time after the driver’s vehicle struck Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township, Michigan, Goodnough said.

The woman had crashed her vehicle into the building and entered about 25 feet inside, “where a young child’s birthday party was being held,” the sheriff said.

At the time of the press conference, there were 15 total victims, both adults and children, the sheriff said. Two victims, who were siblings, were pronounced dead at the scene.

They were later identified as 8-year-old Lana and 5-year-old Zayn by a GoFundMe posted by their aunt, Diane Harrington.

The siblings’ mom, Mariah, and older brother, Jayden, also suffered injuries at the birthday party, and are “still in critical condition,” per the fundraiser.

After first responders arrived, three children and six were adults transported to local hospitals by ambulance and helicopters with “serious, life-threatening injuries,” the sheriff said. The rest were transported via private vehicles.

According to Goodnough, first responders described the initial scene of the crash as “extremely chaotic, with high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident.”

When asked about the demeanor of the driver following the crash, the sheriff said, “As to her mental state, I don’t want to get into that,” though he did note that she “cooperated” with authorities.

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The sheriff also said that the driver may have visited Verna's Tavern, a bar located about three miles away from the boat club, prior to the crash.

He said officials “shut the business down” and are “in the process of executing a search warrant as to information for the business conducted.”

The woman was taken into police custody and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, Goodnough said. He added that “additional criminal charges will likely be brought against the driver as the investigation proceeds.”

"At this time, investigators are continuing to process evidence at the scene, identify victims, interview witnesses and reunite family members,” he said.

After the crash, Swan Creek Boat Club announced in a Facebook post that the club will be closed on Sunday, April 21.

“There was a terrible accident at Swan today with many injuries, and much damage to the pavilion,” the post read. “Please keep all the people and families in attendance in your prayers.”