Woman Accused In MI Birthday Party Crash Bound Over For Trial
BERLIN TOWNSHIP, MI — Prosecutors said the woman who crashed her SUV into a Monroe County building in April, killing two kids and wounding multiple others, had a blood alcohol concentration more than double the legal limit in Michigan on the day of the crash.That new evidence was revealed in a Thursday morning courtroom where a judge determined 66-year-old Marshella Chidester, who was charged in connection with the crash, will stand trial on eight charges, including second-degree murder.Chidester 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 in connection with the crash. She faces life in prison if convicted on all charges.She was placed in the Monroe County Jail, but was later released after posting a $1.5 million bond. Her next court date is scheduled for July 12 at 9 a.m.Chidester's blood alcohol content was .18 at the time of the crash, which happened at the Swan Boat Club in the 6300 block of Brancheau Road in Berlin Township on April 20, according to prosecutors.Alanah Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 4, were killed in the crash and multiple others were injured in the crash, including a 31-year-old woman and an 11-year-old male who were still in critical condition while three others, an 18-year-old female, a 16-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old boy, were still in serious condition, according to police.Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Steven Schmidt testified Thursday morning that Chidester failed several field sobriety tests, including that she couldn't maintain her balance or count backward from 100. She did, however, recite the alphabet, according to the testimony.During the hearing, prosecutors also played a deputy's body camera footage that Chidester could be heard telling Schmidt: "I pulled into the parking lot and I was, I thought I was driving up to the boat club, and evidently I was driving right into the pavilion."Defense lawyers for Chidester said during the hearing that she had a glass of wine with chili on the day of the crash and was taking medication for epileptic-like seizures in her legs.Defense lawyers also said prior to the crash, Chidester had blacked out from a seizure while behind the wheel and didn’t remember the crash or anything leading up to it.Other videos played in the court showed the SUV barreling toward the building quickly before smashing through the wall and scattering debris everywhere. The videos showed officials attending to multiple victims.Bodycam footage from Monroe County Sgt. Michael Bomia showed Chidester sitting in a chair at the scene after the crash. She was heard saying that she was drinking wine roughly 30 minutes before the crash and mentioned having a history of seizures."I just, I passed out," Chidester told Bomia in the video.The article Woman Accused In MI Birthday Party Crash Bound Over For Trial appeared first on Across Michigan, MI Patch.
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