As I sat inside the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, Michigan, I never could have imagined the horror that was to unfold. A drunk driver, identified as Marshella Chidester, crashed into the building where my friend’s son was celebrating his 3rd birthday with a circus-themed party. I was trapped under debris, unable to breathe and thinking I was paralyzed. But I managed to scream out, “Somebody’s gotta find my grandbabies,” as panicked adults scrambled to locate their young children.
The aftermath was nothing short of devastating. Two young siblings, Lana and Zayn Phillips, ages 8 and 5 respectively, lost their lives in the wreck. Their mother, Mariah Dodds, and elder brother Jayden are fighting for theirs. I’m grateful that my own granddaughters, Ella, Evelyn, and Alaina, weren’t injured in the crash.
Just moments before disaster struck, we had sung “Happy Birthday” and served cake. My granddaughters had gone to play in the bounce house, and I’ll never forget their smiles. But after Chidester’s vehicle careered through the party, it looked like a tornado had ripped through the building. A father was tending to his severely injured teen daughter, while others screamed as they tried to rescue Zayn.
I couldn’t see Mariah Dodds, who had been sitting beside me with her three children at the table. Instead, I watched in shock as Chidester was taken away and asked what she was thinking, only to reply that she didn’t know. She looked around the room with a blank stare on her face, seemingly in a daze.
I’ve been treated for multiple injuries, including three breaks in my pelvis, a broken nose, internal bleeding, and a head injury. I’ve been told I won’t be able to walk for at least eight weeks. While I’m angry with Chidester, I don’t hate her. This isn’t the woman I know,” I said. She’s the most loving, caring, loyal, sweetest.
Chidester appeared in court, accused of second-degree murder, and was granted a bond of $1.5 million. Prosecutors had requested this amount due to Chidester’s history of substance misuse, which her friends and family confirmed. The defense argued that she had suffered from “epileptic-type seizures” since November and had only consumed a bowl of chili and a glass of wine four hours prior to the collision.
Chidester was released two days after being arraigned. The children’s aunt, Raquel Smouthers, testified in court, saying, “They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman crashed her car through this building destroying all of our lives.” Dodds is suing Chidester and the tavern where she allegedly drank before getting back into her car.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover funeral expenses for Lana and Zayn. The aftermath was captured in horrific images, with scattered balloons and party cups littering the rubble. Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough explained that the vehicle traveled 25 feet inside the building due to its speed.
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