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.
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The judge presiding over the case set her bond at $1.5 million, with the next court date scheduled for April 30.