A woman who was hit by a ‘drunk driver’ who crashed into a children’s birthday party and killed two young siblings has told of the horrific incident.
Diane Medina had been at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, Michigan, last Saturday when a vehicle drove straight into the building. Medina had been at the club for a three-year-old boy’s circus-themed birthday party when the vehicle hit her and dragged her across the room.
Trapped under the rubble, the 57-year-old told the newspaper Detroit Free Press that she couldn’t breathe and that she thought she was paralyzed.
Medina managed to say, “Someone has to find my grandchildren,” as panicked adults searched for their young children.
Siblings Lana, eight, and Zayn Phillips, five, both died in the wreck as their mother, Mariah Dodds, and older brother, Jayden, fight for their lives.
Medina said the incident was difficult for her to understand because her friend Marshella Chidester, 66, now faces eight charges as the driver of the vehicle.
Diane Medina had been at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township, Michigan, last Saturday when a vehicle drove straight into the building
Trapped under the rubble, the 57-year-old told the Detroit Free Press she couldn’t breathe and thought she was paralyzed
Lana (left) and Zayn (right), the crash victims, are seen with their older brother Jayden in an earlier family photo
Speaking to the hospital, Medina said she was grateful her own grandchildren were not injured in the crash.
She recalled that just minutes before disaster struck, the group sang Happy Birthday and served cake. Her three granddaughters Ella, Evelyn and Alaina had gone to the bouncy castle to play and remembered their smiles.
Medina said after the car ripped through the party, it looked like a tornado had torn through the building.
A father cared for his teenage daughter who was seriously injured, while others screamed as they tried to save Zayn.
Medina said she could not see the deceased sibling’s mother, Mariah Dodds, who had been sitting at the table next to her with her three children.
She then watched in shock as Chidester was taken to a chair and asked, “What were you thinking?”, to which she replied that she didn’t know.
Medina said, “She looked around the room and sat down with a blank look on her face. She just stared at la-la-land.”
Surveillance footage showed the suspected drunk driver swerving erratically before crashing into a boat club where the children’s party was being held, leaving 15 injured.
Lana, eight, and Zayn, five (seen together center) were both killed in the wreck, while their mother, Mariah (right), and older brother, Jayden (left), fight for their lives
Medina was rushed to hospital after her rescue and is being treated for three fractures to her pelvis, a broken nose, internal bleeding and head injuries.
She has been told she won’t be able to walk for at least eight weeks, and told the Free Press she was angry with Chidester.
‘This is not the woman I know. The girl wouldn’t hurt a fly. She is the most loving, caring, loyal and sweetest,” Medina said. ‘I’ve learned never to hate anyone. That’s not in my vocabulary. I don’t hate her. I’m just angry at what she took from me.
‘But I can’t wait to see her in court. I want her to see what she did to me. I want her to see what she did to her friend.”
Chidester appeared in court last week with an arm in a cast after the horrific incident and was charged with second-degree murder.
Chidester has been in custody since the crash and the judge granted her bail of the $1.5 million requested by the prosecutor.
Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey said Chidester had a history of substance abuse, which her friends and family confirmed, in support of the $1.5 million bail.
Marshella Chidester has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly driving her SUV into the wall of the Swan Creek Boat Club, where a child’s birthday party was being held on Saturday.
Raquel Smouthers, aunt of two children killed in the crash, walks away after speaking during arraignment before Chidester
Flowers were left following the incident at the Swan Boat Club during a child’s birthday party the day before
Gruesome images showed balloons and festive cups scattered after the incident
Defense attorney Bill Colovos asked the judge to set Chidester’s bond at $100,000.
He claimed Chidester has been suffering from ‘seizures’ in her legs since November. He also said she had only consumed a bowl of chili and a glass of wine four hours before the collision.
“This isn’t a monster,” Colovos said. “It’s terrible what happened, but there are some things we have no control over.”
Chidester was released two days after his arraignment.
The children’s aunt, Raquel Smouthers, testified in court. She said she was at the party when Chidester killed her niece and nephew.
Chidester’s attorney pointed out that she has no history of reckless driving or traffic tickets
The horror happened around 3 p.m. in Berlin Township, Michigan, when officials said the vehicle flew more than 25 feet into the Swan Boat Club where the party was being held.
“They were sitting at that table eating, and this woman drove her car through this building and destroyed all our lives,” said an almost inconsolable Smouthers.
“No one should ever go to a birthday party thinking he or she is going to die.”
Dodds is suing Chidester and the tavern where she allegedly drank before getting back into her car, the law firm representing Dodds said the associated press.
a GoFundMe was established to cover the funeral costs of the children.
Gruesome footage captured the aftermath as scattered balloons and celebratory cups littered the rubble.
Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough explained that when the vehicle struck the building, she drove another 25 feet in due to her speed.