Woman faces 11 felonies in connection with Wacousta hit-and-run crash that killed 2, injured 14
ST. JOHNS - A 35-year-old Gratiot County woman was charged Monday with 11 felony counts in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed two and injured 14 members of the same family Saturday.
Ashley Marie Monroe, of Perrinton, was charged with two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, two counts of failing to stop at the scene of crash causing death, six counts of OWI causing serious injury and one count of failure to stop at the scene of a crash causing serious impairment or death.
Police said Monroe fled the scene, but was later arrested several miles away and held in the Clinton County Jail.
Two men were killed in the crash, a 30-year-old Grand Haven man and a 42-year-old Grand Ledge man. Their names were not released by police.
Police said all the victims "are known to each other as family."
Eight of the other victims were children, seven of them age 8 or younger. The oldest victim was 61. Eight of the family members had been released from area hospitals by Sunday evening, and six were still hospitalized, including one person who was listed in critical condition.
Clinton County District Court Judge Michael Clarizio set a cash bond of $1 million for Monroe.
Monroe's blood-alcohol level was 0.183 when measured at the Clinton County Jail, according to statements in court. Officials added that prescription anti-depressants were found in her possession and a bottle of Crown Royal was found in her purse.
Monroe pleaded not guilty to the charges via a video link from the jail. She requested a court-appointed attorney. She is employed by the Secretary of State's office, according to an attorney who represented her in court Monday.
She is, if she posts bond, prohibited from leaving the state or having any contact with victims and must submit to drug and alcohol testing.
Sheriff Sean Dush told the Watertown Township board members Monday night that the crash was the result of someone “highly intoxicated” who should not have been driving. He said he expects blood tests to show Monroe’s blood-alcohol level measured at the jail to be higher at the time of the crash.
The crash occurred about 6:30 p.m. Saturday on South Wacousta Road, near Corrison Road, in Watertown Township, west of DeWitt and north of Grand Ledge.
A hearing to determine if there enough evidence for her to stand trial on the charges is set for June 6.
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This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Woman faces 11 felonies in connection with Wacousta hit-and-run crash
