The drunk driver accused of the second-degree murder of two children appeared in court Tuesday with a cast on her right arm.
Marshella Chidester, 66, has been charged with second-degree murder. She allegedly drove her truck into the wall of the Swan Creek Boat Club where a children’s birthday party was being held Saturday.
Lana, eight, and Zayn, five, died in the crash in Berlin Township in Michigan, while their mother, Mariah Dodds, and older brother, Jayden, fight for their lives.
As he entered the courtroom Tuesday, the livestream showed Chidester enter with a cast on his right arm, apparently indicating he suffered an injury during the incident.
The suspect has been detained since the accident. The judge granted him the $1.5 million bail that the prosecution had requested, at the request of some relatives of the victims.
Marshella Chidester (pictured), 66, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly driving her truck into the wall of the Swan Creek Boat Club where a child’s birthday party was being held Saturday.
Eight-year-old Lana and five-year-old Zayn (seen together in the center) died in the crash, while their mother, Mariah (right), and older brother, Jayden (left), are fighting for their lives.
Lana (left) and Zayn (right), the victims of the accident, appear alongside their older brother Jayden in an earlier family photo.
Surveillance footage showed the alleged drunk driver swerving erratically before crashing into a yacht club hosting the children’s party, injuring or killing a total of 15 people.
Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey informed the court that Chidester had a history of substance abuse, which his friends and family had confirmed, in support of the $1.5 million bond.
Bill Colovos, the defense attorney, requested that the judge set Chidester’s bail at $100,000. He stated that since November he has been suffering from “epileptic-type seizures” in his legs. He also claimed that she had only consumed a bowl of chili and a glass of wine four hours before the collision.
“This is not a monster,” Colovos said. “It’s horrible what happened, but there are some things we have no control over.”
Chidester’s attorney also noted that she has no record of reckless driving or traffic tickets.
Yorkey argued that Chidester showed no signs of having suffered a seizure before the crash and that his blood alcohol level was “significantly above the legal limit.”
Raquel Smouthers (left), aunt of the two deceased children, testified in court
He was at the party when Chidester killed his niece and nephew.
Chidester’s livestream showed the defendant entering the courtroom with a cast on her right arm, indicating she suffered an injury during the incident.
Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey (pictured left) informed the court that Chidester had a history of substance abuse, which his friends and family had confirmed, in support of the $1.5 million bond.
Bill Colovos (pictured left), the defense attorney, requested that the judge set Chidester’s bail at $100,000. He stated that since November he has suffered ‘epileptic-type seizures’ in his legs.
If the defendant posts bail, she will be forced to surrender her passport, alcohol, wear a leash and not drive.
Chister, who The Detroit News discovered was the former commodore of the yacht club, he is scheduled to appear at a probable cause conference scheduled for April 30 followed by a preliminary examination on May 6.
The children’s aunt, Raquel Smouthers, testified in court. She said she was at the party when Chidester killed her niece and her nephew.
“They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman crashed her car into this building destroying our lives,” Smouthers said, almost inconsolable. “No one should have to go to a birthday party thinking they’re going to die.”
Dodds is suing Chidester and the tavern where he allegedly drank before returning to his car, the law firm representing Dodds said. AP News.
She suffered broken ribs, a collapsed lung and cuts and bruises while her son broke his legs, some ribs and fractured his skull.
TO GoFundMe It has been created to help cover children’s funeral expenses.
Horrific images captured the aftermath as scattered balloons and party glasses lay among the rubble.
Horrifying images showed balloons and party glasses scattered after a drunk driver crashed a children’s birthday party, killing two young siblings and leaving at least nine victims fighting for their lives (Pictured: Broken wall at the scene)
Flowers were left at the scene Sunday, where the driver smashed a wall at the Swan Boat Club during a child’s birthday party the previous day.
The horror unfolded Saturday around 3 p.m. in Berlin Township, Michigan, when authorities said the vehicle flew more than 25 feet toward the Swan Boat Club where the party was being held.
Helicopters were used to transport victims to nearby hospitals, and nine of the 13 surviving victims were left in life-threatening conditions.
Authorities are called to the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle into a building where a children’s birthday party was being held.
The Swan Creek Yacht Club in Berlin Township, where two children were killed and several people were injured Saturday afternoon.
At a press conference held by Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough, he explained how when the woman crashed her vehicle into the building, it traveled another 25 feet inward due to her speed.
A large presence of first responders were called to the scene shortly after 3pm, where Goodnough said it was “extremely chaotic” with “a high level of emotions”.
A child was reportedly trapped under the vehicle as it flew through the building, while the brother and sister who lost their lives were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Helicopters and ambulances transported nine victims to nearby hospitals, whose lives were in danger.
Other victims were also taken to the hospital by cars, Goodnough said.