Siblings killed, several injured when car crashes into kids’ birthday party in Michigan

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. —  A young brother and sister were killed and several people injured, some of them seriously, when a vehicle driven by a person suspected of DUI crashed into a birthday party Saturday at a Michigan boat club, authorities said.

An 8-year-old and her 5-year-old brother were killed when a 66-year-old woman crashed into a building at Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township, Mich., about 30 miles south of Detroit, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said.

“The scene was described by the first responders as extremely chaotic, with high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” he said.

Three children and six adults were taken to hospitals by helicopter or ambulance, some with life-threatening injuries, the sheriff said. Others were given first aid at the scene, and some were taken to hospitals in private vehicles.

Goodnough did not identify the driver, who rammed her vehicle into the building around 3 p.m., but said she was taken into custody on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and causing death.

She was cooperating with authorities, he said, and likely will face charges as the investigation continues.

Authorities were notified that the woman may have been at a nearby tavern before the crash, Goodnough said, adding that it was closed down and investigators planned to execute a search warrant there.