3 children killed in west Phoenix car accident
Aug 5, 2013, 6:21 PM | Updated: 6:21 pm
PHOENIX — Three children died and several others were seriously injured Monday morning in a head-on collision near 59th and Southern avenues.
Phoenix authorities said the fatalities were young kids, who were riding in a minivan, driven by their 16-year-old sibling. The family was on the way to school. Three other siblings were also in the vehicle.
All are in the hospital. One is in critical condition, as is the adult male driver of the other car.
The minivan rolled over after impact with the car and some of the children were ejected from the van. The driver of the car was alone.
“There was a child safety seat that was found in the minivan; however, it doesn’t appear that it was properly installed. It appears at this point that no one was restrained in the vehicle,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump.
The driver of the minivan appeared to be unlicensed, but did have some sort of learner’s permit, according to Phoenix police.
“We haven’t determined what caused (loss of control by the teen driver) at this point,” Sgt. Crump said.
“Whether it was speed, whether it was a dip, whether it was going off the roadway, whether it was vehicle malfunction at some point. We don’t know.”
Southern Avenue was closed between 55th and 59th avenues throughout the morning.
