16 family members hit by same car, 2 dead, Michigan hit-and-run driver arrested
A woman is facing charges after authorities say she was behind the wheel when her vehicle slammed into a group of 16 family members in Michigan, killing two and sending the rest to hospitals in what could be a drunk driving incident.
The crash took place Saturday night in Watertown Township, about 12 miles northwest of downtown Lansing.
The victims in the fatal hit-and-run crash ranged in age from age 2 to 61, according to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the tragic weekend wreck along with more than a dozen other agencies across greater Lansing.
The crash killed Johnathan Esch, 30, of Grand Haven, and Daniel Harris, 42, of Grand Ledge, while 14 other victims were sent to hospitals, according to a statement posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page.
Ashley Marie Monroe, 35, of Perrinton, was charged Monday with 11 felonies in connection with the crash and was being held on a $1 million cash bond. Monroe is accused of striking 16 members of the extended family walking along South Wacousta Road.
As of Monday afternoon, officials had not identified those injured in the crash or said where they are from, but did release the ages of those transported to hospitals as: 2, 2, 3, 6, 6, 7, 8, 16, 27, 28, 32, 33, 38, and 61.
Six family members remained in the hospital, the sheriff's office said Sunday night, adding that eight had been released.
One victim, a 38-year-old woman, was in critical condition at an unspecified hospital, the sheriff's office said Monday.
"With heavy hearts, we pray for all of the individuals and families affected by this incident. We are here for all of you," the sheriff's office posted on Facebook.
Driver fled scene, was later arrested
The sheriff's office reported the hit-and-run crash took place about 6:30 p.m. on South Wacousta Road.
Monroe fled the scene after colliding with the family, but was later arrested several miles away, the sheriff's office wrote in an updated release posted early Sunday.
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'Alcohol is believed to be a factor'
Monroe was set to be arraigned Monday in connection to fatal the hit-and-run.
"Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this incident," sheriff's office Lieutenant Dan Spitzley posted in the release, adding the crash remained under investigation Monday.
Among the charges Monroe is facing are two counts of OWI causing death and two counts of failure to stop at the scene of a fatal accident when at fault.
Monroe's bail was set at $1 million.
Community mourns 'senseless tragedy'
News of the fatal wreck drew swift response from people on the sheriff's social media page.
"A senseless tragedy. My prayers are for this whole family. Thank you for this update," one person posed on an update on the page Sunday evening.
Law enforcement has not released additional information about the family aside from the two people who were killed, but Lyah VanSickle, chief development officer at Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, posted on the sheriff's page the family was coming from a trip down the nearby Looking Glass River when the driver struck them.
"Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan is heartbroken by the recent tragedy that occurred down the street from our Girl Scout Regional Center and Girl Scout Camp," VanSickle wrote.
The Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, VanSickle wrote, has organized a cookie donation drive for the responding agencies.
USA TODAY has reached out to VanSickle.
Contributing: Lansing State Journal staff
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 16 relatives struck by car in Wacousta hit-and run; 2 dead
