A Connecticut household is experiencing the unthinkable after 5 younger siblings and cousins died in a automobile crash over the weekend.
The victims, ages 8 to 17, had been killed Sunday when the SUV they had been touring in veered off a New York freeway and hit a tree, police in Westchester County, New York, stated in a assertion on Fb.
Police confirmed to HuffPost on Monday that the victims had been Malik Smith, 16; Anthony Billips Jr., 17; Zahnyiah Cross, 12; Shawnell Cross, 11; Andrew Billips, 8.
Malik was believed to be driving a Nissan Rogue when it crashed on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale at about 12:20 a.m. native time. The SUV caught hearth after it hit a tree and no different automobiles had been concerned, police say.
The only real survivor, a 9-year-old boy whom police haven't but recognized, was apparently using within the SUV’s hatchback space and escaped out the rear. The boy was taken by ambulance to Westchester Medical Middle with non-life-threatening accidents, police say.
The household informed CBS New York that the victims had been all siblings and cousins who had been very “shut,” and had been driving to Derby, Connecticut, from a mall on the time of the accident.
Malik lived in East New York, Brooklyn, whereas the remainder of the victims lived in Derby.
Malik Smith, the 16-year-old driver’s father who shares the identical identify as his deceased son, informed the outlet that the younger members of the family typically spent their weekends collectively on the mall.
“That’s [Malik’s] factor. He goes to the mall. He goes to get his ice cream together with his cousin. They go to the flicks. They stroll across the mall. They do what youngsters and youngsters do, . In order that’s, it’s simply, I didn’t know he was driving by himself,” Smith stated.
Police say the crash stays underneath investigation, however Smith informed CBS New York that his son didn't have a driver’s license or a learner’s allow, and was informed repeatedly to not get behind the wheel of a automobile.
“I informed him, his mom informed him, his older brothers informed him, cease driving with out a license, with out a allow. Something occurs, you get pulled over, you get in hassle for this stuff. Cease doing this,” Smith stated.
Household additionally informed native information channel WABC on Monday that based on the preliminary info they got, they consider Malik could have fallen asleep whereas driving.
Matt Conway, the superintendent of faculties in Derby, informed The Related Press that he has reached out to the household to supply help.
“It’s the unimaginable. Having to now make preparations for 5 of your youngsters to be buried is a really troublesome factor for anybody — one youngster, by no means thoughts 5 that you just’re going to need to now make preparations for,” Conway stated.
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