Prayer service planned, donations sought for Wacousta crash victims at Delta Twp. church

DELTA TWP. — A church is hosting a prayer vigil Wednesday night and soliciting donations for the family devastated by a fatal hit-and-run crash this past weekend.

West Lansing Church of Christ is hosting the prayer service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 5505 W. St. Joe Hwy. The public is invited, the church said in a Facebook post.

"Join us as we gather together as a community to pray for the families who have lost so much and continue to recover," the post said.

Saturday evening, 16 members of an extended family were struck by a suspected drunken driver while walking on South Wacousta Road in Watertown Township.

Johnathan Esch and Daniel Harris died at the scene. Fourteen others were injured and one person, identified on the church's website as Erica Esch, suffered critical injuries and remains hospitalized.

Another victim, David Esch, was thrown through the air while holding his 2-year-old daughter, the church wrote.

Harris leaves behind his wife, Jessica, and their four children, the church said. All "sustained multiple injuries including broken bones, concussions, visible wounds," the church wrote.

"...Two great men died tragically as they gave their lives to protect and save their families," the church post said. "As the car barreled erratically towards the group on the bridge, all of the men, including Johnathan Allan Esch and Daniel George Harris, were each able to work rapidly to move as many family members as possible, including small children, out of the path of the oncoming car.

The driver of the SUV that struck the family did not stop, but was arrested later. Ashley Monroe, 35 of Perrinton, now faces 11 felony charges and is being held in the Clinton County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

A tab on the church's website provides a link to donate. The church said it is coordinating donations with other area churches.

"Each family member directly involved is facing new realities and medical bills are mounting quickly in a short time," the church wrote. "Loss of income is a great concern. Extended family mourns the losses and the profound and permanent impact this event will have forever after."

Watertown Township has canceled its Memorial Day weekend events out of respect for the family, officials said earlier this week.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Church plans prayer service, seeks donations for Wacousta crash victims