Five children- aged 8 to 17 - are killed in fiery crash after an SUV being driven by 16-year-old hit a tree: Grieving dad confirms kids were all related and says: 'Words can't even express the pain we are feeling'
- Five children were killed in a single vehicle car crash in Scarsdale, New York Sunday just after midnight
- The children were all siblings and police said a nine-year-old boy survived
- The car was driven by a 16-year-old boy who veered off the road and struck a tree which caused the car to burst into flames
According to local police, the vehicle was driven by a 16-year-old boy who veered off the road for an unknown reason and struck a tree in Westchester County.
A nine-year-old boy who was riding in the 'rear hatchback/cargo area' managed to survive the crash and escape the vehicle.
The parents of the five children - whose ages ranged from eight to 17 - posted heartbreaking tributes to social media Sunday afternoon.
'This is the most painful post I ever had to write in my life,' said father Anthony Billips in a Facebook post. 'We wouldn't wish this to happen to anyone in this world.'
According to WABC, police said the 16-year-old who was at the wheel may have fallen asleep causing him and the Nissan Rogue to travel off the road.
After hitting the tree, the car burst into flames and killed the driver, three young boys, and two girls, all from Derby, Connecticut.
The children's names and respective ages are unknown at this time - but family members have posted tributes and photos of the deceased.
In a GoFundMe post set up by family members, grieving relatives pictured seven individuals in a mixture of group and selfie photos of the deceased.
'They're all either teenagers or less, sadly,' O'Leary said.
While speaking with media, Westchester Police spokesperson Kieran O'Leary said the one child who survived was able to get 'out the back somehow.'
The 9-year-old boy who survived was taken to Westchester Medical Center. He was in stable condition Sunday afternoon.
The crash remains under investigation as the family grieves the losses.
In social media posts, the family has asked friends and loved ones for prayers and thoughts during the difficult time.
'Lord Jesus I don’t understand why you had to take our babies from us,' wrote Nicole Cross - who said her children were killed in the wreck.
'Please give us the strength Lord God,' Cross said.
'These kids didn't deserve this like why is this happening please keep my family in your prayers…. don't know what to do or how to handle this God please help us,' the grieving woman wrote.
New York car crash leaves 5 children, all from the same family, dead
Five children - ages ranging from eight to 17 - were killed Sunday in Scarsdale, New York after the group's SUV crashed into a tree and caught fire just after midnight.
