Mom Of 2 Kids Killed In Monroe Co. Birthday Party Crash Files Lawsuit

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, MI — The mother of the two kids who were killed Saturday after police said a suspected drunken driver crashed through a building that was hosting a birthday party in Monroe County has filed a lawsuit.

Mariah Dodds, who suffered serious injuries in the crash, filed the lawsuit after her children Alanah Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 4, were killed in the crash after a 66-year-old woman crashed into the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, according to the sheriff's office.

Multiple others were injured in the crash, including five people who were in critical condition at nearby hospitals, according to the sheriff's office.

Marshella Chidester, 66, of Newport, was arrested in connection with the deadly crash. She was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated (OWI) causing death and four counts of OWI causing serious injury. She was placed in the Monroe County Jail on a $1.5 million bond.

The civil lawsuit was filed against Chidester and Verna's Tavern, where police believe Chidester was at before the crash. The lawsuit seeks damages of whatever amount above $25,000 is fair, interest on the judgment plus court costs, along with "other relief as is just." The family is represented by Attorney Jon Marko and Michael Jones.

"This is any parent’s worst nightmare. Entire lives were devastated and will suffer from this loss forever. We will make sure those responsible are held accountable for this senseless tragedy. The family is forever grateful for the support of everyone. "Please continue to pray for comfort," Marko said in a news release.

Police said the crash happened around 3 p.m. at the Swan Boat Club in the 6300 block of Brancheau Road in Berlin Township. The vehicle hit the north wall of the structure and came to a rest roughly 25 feet inside, according to the sheriff's office.

"The scene was described as ‘extremely chaotic,’ with high levels of emotion by those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident," according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities also learned Chidester may have been at a nearby tavern before the incident, adding they closed the establishment and planned to execute a search warrant there as part of the investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

A GoFundMe page was created to help the family pay for funeral services. As of Tuesday morning, the page raised $201,000, exceeding its goal of $200,000.

A separate GoFundMe page was created to help other victims who were taken to the hospital. As of Tuesday morning, the page raised $11,550, short of its $15,000 goal.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530.