A Michigan mother faces decades in prison after driving into a group of pedestrians, resulting in 16 casualties, including two fatalities, as the group headed to a park for what was supposed to be a fun outing. The tragic incident left a community in mourning and has now led to a lengthy prison sentence for Ashley Monroe, 36.

Monroe received a sentence of 30 to 60 years for a devastating crash that occurred in May 2024 in Watertown Township, located approximately 15 miles from Lansing. She entered a plea of no contest to charges of second-degree murder and eight counts of driving while intoxicated, resulting in serious injuries.

The victims, all members of an extended family, were on their way from a house to a nearby park, a familiar and routine walk for them. Their lives were forever altered when Monroe’s vehicle struck them at high speed, turning a joyful day into a nightmare.

At the time of the crash, Monroe, who was pregnant and is now the mother of five, had a blood alcohol level of 0.183, significantly exceeding the legal limit. Authorities also discovered a nearly empty bottle of Crown Royal whisky in her purse, alongside two bottles of antidepressants, according to the prosecution.

During a more than two-hour sentencing hearing, family members of the victims, including 30-year-old firefighter Johnathan Esch and his 42-year-old brother-in-law Daniel Harris, shared poignant testimonies. They spoke of the profound loss and enduring impact of their loved ones’ deaths, underscoring the emotional toll of the tragedy on their lives.

“Ashley, you made me a 28-year-old widow,” said Esch’s wife, Erika Glatz, according to a courtroom report from local NBC affiliate WILX as Monroe wiped away tears.

Glatz said she would have understood if Monroe had made a mistake.

“But, Ashley, this was not a mistake,” Glatz said. “You chose to drink while pregnant. You chose to drive. And perhaps most vile of all, you chose to run over an entire family and flee.”

Esch’s mother also spoke.

“Make no mistake, what you did was murder. You are a murderer,” Dee Esch sneered.

Monroe did not make a statement but her attorney said she was remorseful.

Circuit Judge Cori Barkman said the impact of the incident is far and wide.

“This family is going to have to live with memories of this terrible tragedy for the rest of their lives,” Barkman said, per the Lansing State Journal.

As Law&Crime previously reported, the incident happened shortly before 6:30 p.m. May 18, 2024, on South Wacousta Road near Corrison Road. After crashing into the victims, Monroe drove away before Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies stopped her about three minutes later. Her car had heavy front end damage and cops found hair, blood and tissue belonging to the victims, said assistant prosecutor Debra Martinez.

Esch and Harris died at the scene. Paramedics rushed the 14 other victims, ranging in age from 2 to 61, to the hospital. Nine suffered serious injuries, deputies said.

Monroe is a mother of five children, who at the time of the crash were ages 13, 11, 7 and 1, and delivered another while she was in jail. She worked at the Michigan secretary of state’s office for about a year and a half, her attorney said.