Community raises money for Monroe Co. boat club victims

Donors are turning to fundraisers to help after an alleged drunken driver plowed her car into a birthday party in Monroe County on Saturday, killing two young children and injuring at least 13 other people.

More than $200,000 were raised through at least two GoFundMe campaigns to help with funerals, housing and medical expenses to "take some weight" off of families reeling from the crash that occurred about 3 p.m. Saturday at Swan Boat Club on Brancheau Street in Berlin Township.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office on Monday afternoon identified the two children killed as siblings Alanah Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 4. They died at the scene, police said.

Fundraiser organizer Diane Harrington provided an update Monday on her sister Mariah and nephew Jayden, saying they remained in critical condition, according to her GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser was shared on Berlin Charter Township's Facebook page.

"Jayden had a long surgery (Sunday) and will have quite the recovery ahead of him but he is awake and in the comfort of his family," Harrington said. "Mariah is now awake and also has a long recovery ahead of her. Continued prayers needed as the family navigates through this tough time."

Harrington said the donations would give "Lana" and Zayn a "proper funeral and burial service."

"Left over monies will help the family with housing and medical expenses,"Harrington said.

By Monday, Harrington's GoFundMe campaign had raised $194,370.

Nine others were hospitalized after the crash, including a 31-year-old woman in critical condition; an 11-year-old boy in critical condition; an 18-year-old woman in serious condition; a 16-year-old girl in serious condition; and a 14-year-old boy in serious condition, according to an update from the Sheriff's Office on Monday afternoon.

Three women, ages 66, 62, and 57, all suffered minor injuries. A 42-year-old man also sought treatment on his own for minor injuries, the Sheriff's Office said.

On a separate GoFundMe page, Lia, a "fresh graduate," was reportedly listed in critical condition at Beaumont Hospital in Trenton. She was attending her cousin’s birthday party Saturday, the GoFundMe page said.

Lia's father, Josh, described the scene at the hospital with his daughter.

"My heart is so heavy today I'm in the hospital today with my daughter that was badly injured by a drunk driver all the while listening to (gut-wrenching) sobs from the room next to us," he said, according to the GoFundMe page set up by Kymberlee Flores, which had raised $9,355 by Monday night.

"One bad decision can affect so many. In the case of this lady years of bad decisions caught up to her," Josh said, referring to the suspected driver who slammed into the boat club building Saturday.

The Sheriff's Office said the 66-year-old woman's car landed 25 feet into the building. Officials received information Saturday that woman may have been at Verna’s Tavern earlier Saturday.

"Nowadays we have Uber and cell phones to call for a ride," Josh said. "Yet some just get in their car and roll. Please don't be that person."

jaimery@detroitnews.com