Five Connecticut children, all related, died in a fiery crash after striking a tree off a highway. The children were ages 8 to 17 and driven by a 16-year-old boy. Father admits knowing son was driving without a permit. A 9-year-old survived.
5 children die in a fiery car crash
The accident occurred around 12:20 AM local time along the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale, New York. Police say they believe the vehicle, a Nissan Rogue, was being driven by a 16-year-old boy who struck a tree, NBC News reported. After striking the tree, the SUV caught fire. No other vehicles were involved.
The driver was identified as 16-year-old Malik Smith, who did not survive.
During a press conference the following day, police confirmed that the driver did not have a permit or a driver’s license, People reported.
Among the five children who were killed in the crash were four boys and a girl, all from Connecticut. A family member confirmed that all of the children were related.
The other four dead were siblings and cousins: Anthony Billips Jr., 17; Zahnyiah Cross, 12; Shawnell Cross, 11; and Andrew Billips, 8.
Sole survivor
The only survivor of the accident was a nine-year-old boy. According to a statement by Kieran O’Leary, spokesperson for the Westchester County Police Department, the boy was “apparently riding in the rear hatchback/cargo area and escaped out the rear.” The boy was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police.
The surviving boy’s name was not released.
Father knew his 16-year-old son was driving without a permit
The driver’s father, whose name is also Malik Smith, told CBS 2 that his son did not have a permit to drive. He also admitted to knowing his son was driving in general.
“Yeah, I was [aware],” Smith admitted. “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,” Smith continued, adding he told his son, “stop doing this.”
When asked about the relationship between the children, Smith said they were closer than just cousins.
“They wasn’t cousins, they were more brothers,” the driver’s father said. “Brothers and sisters, that’s how close they are.”
