Five children are dead after a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old veered off a New York highway early Sunday morning. According to officials, a 9-year-old boy was the sole survivor of the fiery crash.
The accident occurred around 12:20 a.m. on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale, New York. In a press release, the Westchester Police Department stated a Nissan Rogue left the highway, struck a tree, and burst into flames.
The victims ranged in age from eight to 17 years old.
The only survivor of the crash was reportedly riding in the “rear hatchback/cargo area and escaped out the rear.”
The 9-year-old boy was taken to a local hospital with injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.
Unfortunately, the remaining victims – four males and a female – died as a result of the crash.
The driver’s father Malik Smith spoke with CBS2 and revealed that his 16-year-old son, Malik Smith, did not have a permit to drive, but that didn’t stop him from driving. Nor did pleads from his parents or older siblings.
And I told him, his mother told him, his older brothers told him, stop driving without a license, without a permit. Anything happens, you get pulled over, you get in trouble for these things. Stop doing this,” Smith said.
Smith explained that his son spent his weekends with his cousins Connecticut.
“That’s his thing. He goes to the mall. He goes to get his ice cream with his cousin. They go to the movies. They walk around the mall. They do what teenagers and kids do, you know. So that’s, it’s just, I didn’t know he was driving by himself.”
No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Police are still investigating.
Meanwhile, Matt Conway, the superintendent of schools in Derby, CT where some of the children attended school, expressed his condolences and offered support to the families and community.
“It’s the unimaginable. Having to now make arrangements for five of your children to be buried is a very difficult thing for anyone – one child, never mind five that you’re going to have to now make arrangements for.”
Monday morning officials released the names of the victims: Malik Smith, 16, Anthony Billips Jr., 17, Zahnyiah Cross, 12, Shawnell Cross, 11, and Andrew Billips, 8. The name of the surviving victim has not been released.
READ MORE:
- Dwayne Johnson thanks “angels of mercy” after his mom is involved in serious car accident
- Newlyweds killed in tragic car accident moments after they said their vows
- Family of missing young mom find her body days after finding her wrecked car
Awful, absolutely awful. There’s no other way to describe this horrific tragedy that didn’t have to happen.
Please send prayers to the family.
