Canton of Berlin — Grief and pain continued to spread through a Monroe County community Monday, two days after two children were killed by a suspected drunk driver who rammed his car at a birthday party.
A makeshift memorial of stuffed animals and crucifixes was erected Monday outside the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, where the party was held, as prosecutors said a charging decision against the alleged driver, a 66-year-old woman, would likely be handed down on Tuesday.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Monday afternoon identified the two children killed as 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips. They died at the scene, the sheriff’s department said.
Monroe County Prosecutor Jeffery Yorkey said the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department must conduct additional investigation before his office can make a charging decision related to the crash.
“Mr. Yorkey wishes to extend his deepest condolences to the victims of Saturday’s tragic incident,” according to a press release from prosecutors.
Nine other people were hospitalized, including a 31-year-old woman in critical condition; an 11-year-old boy in critical condition; an 18-year-old woman in serious condition; a 16-year-old girl in serious condition; and a 14-year-old boy in serious condition, according to an update from the sheriff’s office Monday afternoon.
Three women, aged 66, 62 and 57, all suffered minor injuries.
A 42-year-old man also sought treatment alone for minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said.
A statement from the yacht club’s board of directors said Monday it had “no deep words” for this “unimaginable tragedy” – “only feelings.”
“Sadness, shock, frustration,” said a statement on Facebook. “We are a community of people who come together when tragedy strikes. We need time to process the grief, to support each other, to support the families directly and indirectly involved, to be in each other’s company. As we all try To move forward in our grief and sadness, we must give ourselves the grace to grieve and know that the Swan Boat Club is committed to our members and our community.
The name of the suspect, 66, has not been released by Monroe County authorities.
The older brother of the two siblings killed in the crash and the mother were in critical condition after the crash, but their condition is improving, according to a GoFundMe set up by the children’s aunt, Diane Harrington.
The Brancheau Street Yacht Club was closed Monday, although a shrine of stuffed animals, crucifixes and other objects was set out in front of where the car crashed into the club. Boards painted blue covered the hole.
A couple in a red Ford F150 truck pulled up to the site and wordlessly added a stuffed animal to the collection. They declined to comment.
The woman suspected in the accident lives approximately 200 meters from the yacht club. An employee at the club, who wished to remain anonymous, said the alleged motorist did not work there, but was instead a volunteer.
“The family cannot thank everyone enough for their continued support at a time like this,” Harrington said Monday. “(The children’s brother) underwent a long operation yesterday and will have some recovery time ahead of him, but he is awake and in the comfort of his family. Mariah (the children’s mother) is now awake and also has a long upcoming convalescence of her.
Berlin Township Supervisor Dave Reaume said the community’s hopes and prayers go out to the victims’ family. He also thanked the first responders involved.
“I want residents to take time to heal and take it day by day,” he told the Detroit News. “You don’t think something like this will ever happen in your community.”
The suspect crashed into the Swan Creek Boat Club in the 6000 block of Brancheau in Berlin Township around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. His car landed 25 feet into the building, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said.
Authorities received information Saturday that the suspected driver may have been at Verna’s Tavern earlier Saturday.
The tavern was open Monday and some customers declined to comment. Authorities closed the bar Saturday after the accident and were executing a search warrant to learn more about the day’s activities, Goodnough said during Saturday evening’s news conference.
The tavern’s owner was not available for comment, an employee said Monday.