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WXYZ Detroit 7 Action News
Woman charged in deadly boat club crash released from jail on $1.5 million bond
By WXYZ Web Team,
10 days ago
The woman charged in the deadly crash at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township on Saturday has been released after posting bond, jail officials confirmed.
Bond for Marshella Chidester, 66, was set at $1.5 million. She was given conditions that included not operating a motor vehicle, substance abuse monitoring and a GPS tether.
Chidester crashed into the boat club on Saturday afternoon as it was hosting a child's birthday party.
VIDEO: Video shows vehicle right before deadly crash at Swan Boat Club
Video shows vehicle right before deadly crash into Monroe County building during birthday party
According to the sheriff's office, two siblings, 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ten other people, including Alanah and Zayn’s mother, were injured in the crash and hospitalized. One of the victims suffered minor injuries and sought treatment on his own. The other nine victims’ conditions varied from minor injuries to critical condition.
Chidester was arraigned Tuesday morning on eight charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of OWI causing death and four counts of OWI causing serious injury.
VIDEO: Hear from the aunt during the arraignment below:
FULL ARRAIGNMENT: Driver arraigned in Swan Boat Club crash that killed 2 kids, injured others
“I had to see my deceased niece and nephew. I had to see their very last moment before her car was removed,” Alanah and Zayn’s aunt Raquel Smothers said. “I had to be the one to tell my sister her babies were gone when they removed her ventilator yesterday. She said 'How am I supposed to live without my babies?'”
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