Two children are dead and a further 15 people have been injured after a suspected drunk driver crashed into a birthday party at a boat club, a Michigan sheriff said.
The two children who died at the scene on Saturday were a brother and sister, an eight-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother.
Several people have been seriously injured, according to Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough.
“The scene was described by the first responders as extremely chaotic, with high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” he said.
Three children and six adults were taken to area hospitals by two helicopters or ambulances, some with life-threatening injuries. Others injured were given first aid at the scene, and some of them were taken to hospitals by private vehicles.
The Michigan sheriff said a 66-year-old woman was behind the wheel of the vehicle when she crashed and travelled 25 feet into the building.
The incident occurred at about 3pm at the Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township, which is about 30 miles south of Detroit.
He did not identify the woman driving the vehicle but said she was taken into custody suspected of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
She was co-operating with authorities, he said, and likely would face more charges as the investigation continues.
She has been taken into custody to the Monroe County Jail.
Authorities were notified that the woman may have been at a nearby tavern before the incident, Mr Goodnough said, adding they closed it down and planned to execute a search warrant there as part of the investigation.
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