Birthday party crash: Young brother and sister dead, several hurt as vehicle crashes into US birthday party

A law enforcement official at the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle through a building where a children's birthday party was taking place. Photo / AP

A young brother and sister died and several people were injured, some of them seriously, when a vehicle crashed into a young child’s birthday party today NZT at a Michigan boat club.

An 8-year-old girl and her 5-year-old brother died at the scene in the crash, when a 66-year-old woman, suspected of drink driving, crashed 7.6m into the building at about 3pm local time at the Swan Creek Boat Club in Berlin Township, about 50km south of Detroit, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said.

“The scene was described by the first responders as extremely chaotic, with high level of emotions of those directly involved and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” he said.

Three children and six adults were taken to area hospitals by two helicopters or ambulances, with life-threatening injuries, he said. Others injured were given first aid at the scene, and some of them were taken to hospitals by private vehicles.

Authorities respond to the Swan Creek Boat Club after a driver crashed a vehicle through a building where a children's birthday party was taking place. Photo / AP

Goodnough did not identify the woman driving the vehicle but said she was taken into custody to the Monroe County Jail suspected of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death.

She was co-operating with authorities, he said, and likely would face more charges as the investigation continues.

Authorities were notified that the woman may have been at a nearby tavern before the incident, Goodnough said, adding they closed it down and planned to execute a search warrant there as part of the investigation.