7 more victims injured in Swan Boat Club crash sue driver, club

Seven other victims of the Swan Boat Club crash in Monroe County that left two children dead and nearly a dozen others injured have filed a lawsuit against the driver who crashed into the building, the boat club and the tavern where the driver was allegedly drinking at before the crash.

Denise Roberts, Martin Roberts, Patricia Raths, Alyssa Sigler, Lia Stith, Josh Stith and Kathy Stigler are the new additions in the lawsuit, an amended version of which was filed Monday in Monroe County Circuit Court. Mariah Dodds and her 11-year-old son filed a lawsuit April 22, two days after the fatal crash. Dodds' two children, 4-year-old Zayn Phillips and 8-year-old Alanah Phillips, were killed in the crash.

The lawsuit also alleges the boat club negligently constructed and maintained the building where the crash happened. Raths, Alyssa Sigler, Lisa Sith, Josh Stith, Lia Stith and Kathy Sigler were seriously injured in the crash, according to the lawsuit.

Marshella Chidester is accused of driving under the influence on April 20 and crashing her car into the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County during a children's birthday party. Prosecutors said she drove through the side of the building and flew 25 feet inside; her attorney contends Chidester may have had a seizure or a type of neuropathy that affected her.

Chidester, who served as commodore of the Swan Boat Club in 2017 and lives down the block from the club, was charged last week with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing death and four counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. She faces up to life in prison if she's convicted.

Roberts was standing with her back to the wall that Chidester's car came through. She heard a loud boom, which sounded like a bomb going off. The next thing she remembers was her husband, Martin Roberts, finding her and sitting her up on the floor. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and has back pain.

The lawsuit said the Swan Boat Club "negligently constructed and maintained its building where the crash occurred," and constructed the building "in the roadway" without installing a guard rail, cement pole or other safety devices meant to keep a vehicle from crashing through the building.

The club also was in violation of building codes, had an unsafe parking lot and driveway and failed to inspect the area for hazards, dangers and improper conditions, according to the lawsuit.

The boat club did not answer the phone Tuesday, but has been posting on Facebook frequently about fundraisers to benefit the victims from the crash.

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