Marshella Chidester, a 66-year-old woman charged with crashing into the Swan Boat Club during a children's birthday party while intoxicated, will stand trial after a judge's decision. The April incident, which occurred in Monroe County's Newport, claimed the lives of two young siblings, 8-year-old Alanah Phillips, and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips, and left several others injured. According to police quoted by CBS News Detroit, tests revealed Chidester's blood alcohol level was 0.18, more than twice Michigan's legal limit of 0.08.
During the recent proceedings, a poignant moment unfolded as Mariah Dodds, the mother of the deceased children, delivered her testimony. Recalling the harrowing ordeal, she mentioned being unconscious, her recovery in the hospital, and the long-term impact on her surviving son, who remained hospitalized for injuries sustained in the crash. This testimony, detailed by Detroit Free Press, provided a stark contrast to Chidester's defense which contends that a medical issue led to the tragic crash.
The defense, led by attorney Bill Colovos, argues that Chidester suffered from neuropathy and claims she had blacked out from a seizure before the crash, as mentioned in Detroit Free Press. However, Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Steven Schmidt testified that Chidester, also found to have the medication gabapentin in her system, admitted to drinking wine about 30 minutes before the impact. During the arraignment, further questions about Chidester's sobriety were raised, with the defense contending she displayed epileptic-like seizures in her legs and had consumed only a bowl of chili and a glass of wine hours before the crash.
Amidst this tragedy, a lawsuit has been filed against Chidester and the establishment where she allegedly drank before the incident, Verna's Tavern. Mariah Dodds, the mother of the victims, has been joined by several other victims in a legal action reported by CBS News Detroit. Chidester's actions and their devastating consequences have sparked public debate, with community members and victims' families voicing their distress. The case, which exposes the intersection of personal accountability and unforeseen medical conditions, now moves to the trial phase, where Chidester's future hangs in the balance. Scheduled for July 12, the proceedings will determine the legal reckoning for the tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the Newport community, as noted by WWJ Newsradio.
