MI Pregnant Mom Of 4 Charged In Crash That Killed 2, Hurt 14: Police

WATERTOWN TOWNSHIP, MI — A pregnant mom of four is facing charges after prosecutors said she struck 16 people, killing two, in a crash while driving drunk outside Lansing last weekend.

Johnathan Esch, 30, and Daniel Harris, 42, were killed in the crash that happened last Saturday evening in Watertown Township, according to police.

The other victims in the crash were two 2-year-olds, a 3-year-old, two 6-year-olds and people ages 7, 8, 16, 27, 28, 32, 33, 38 and 61, according to police.

They all suffered non-life-threatening injuries, except a 38-year-old woman who was still in critical condition, according to police.

Ashley Marie Monroe, 35, of Perrinton, was charged with two counts of operating under the influence causing death and two counts of failing to stop at the scene when at fault resulting in death, six counts of operating under the influence causing incapacitating injury and one count of failure to stop at the scene of accident resulting in serious impairment or death.

Monroe was placed in the Clinton County Jail on a $1 million bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 30.

Police said the group of family members were walking on the shoulder of South Wacousta Road near Corrison Road in Watertown Township last Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. when a suspected drunken driver smashed into the group and drove away.

The driver, whom prosecutors identified as Monroe, was arrested later Saturday night "several miles away" from the crash scene, according to police.

Prosecutors said officers found "a mostly empty" pint of Crown Royal in Monroe's purse and two bottles of her anti-depressants in her car. Lawyers also said she blew a .183, which is over twice the legal limit.