Five kids dead after SUV rollover in Texas

Updated 4:12 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) Investigators say a tire blowout caused an overcrowded SUV heading to a water park to overturn in east Texas, killing two boys and three girls.

Department of Public Safety trooper Jean Dark says three other children and two adults were hurt in the single-vehicle rollover Monday near Van, about 70 miles east of Dallas. One adult and one child were uninjured.

The driver, 36-year-old Federico Acuna, and a 15-year-old girl were the only two wearing seat belts - and the only two not hurt in the crash, Dark said. Acuna lost control of the vehicle, which rolled several times before coming to rest on its top, Dark said. Ten passengers were thrown from the vehicle, she said.

The dead included two boys and three girls, identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as: 13-year-old Rosvaelia Jaimes; 7-year-old Omar Jaimes; 6-year-old Saideth Acuna; 3-year-old Ulisa Acuna; and 2-year-old Urit Jaimes. DPS said they all came from Marshall.

Dark said the investigation is not complete but the driver could face charges of criminal negligent homicide, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

[garrisongetar]

I always ensure passengers in my vehicle are buckled up. It's as much for my safety as for theirs and it's simply common sense. In case of an accident or sudden, hard braking, I don't want any of my passengers flying around like missiles inside the vehicle. As the seatbelt slogan says 'if you're not buckled up, what's holding you back'?

[Jaylah54200]

Texas' answer to birth control for poor people.

[Phxfire]

It's takes a couple seconds, at most, to put on a seatbelt and to put your child in a seat or other approved restraint. It's just plain ignorant and stupidity to think you're immune from tragedy. Telling yourself you're a good driver is just stupid, you may be okay, but you can't control the next guy's driving or road conditions. I suppose you can just have more kids. It takes longer to plan a funeral than it does to prevent one in the first place.

[tiktin]

I am sick and tired of reading the police lies about seatbelts and the media printing them. The police, who did not get there until after the accident, would have no way of knowing who was and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Seatbelts are a scam and a fraud and have killed more than 35,000 motorists in this country and never saved anybody. The police tell these lies because they are required to do so under the so-called "agreements" called for 23 USC 402, in order for the state to qualify for federal grants under this statute. In addition, police are required to give tickets to motorists not wearing seatbelts in primary seatbelt law states, and so seek to justify their actions, which are resented by those getting the tickets. In secondary seatbelt law states, those states could, until recently, qualify for grants under 23 USC 406 if the state achieved an 85% seatbelt use rate and the police are thus under orders to promote seatbelt use in those states. This statute has just been repealed by the congress, which has finally figured out the extent of this fraud. What the police really think about seatbelts is shown by the fact that practically every police department in the country has applied to be exempted from the seatbelt requirement.

[canameri]

Stupid comment of the day award!

[rwsmith29456]

I love my seatbelts. They are one of the best single safety features added to cars over their entire history.

[formerlyluvnut]

It's all the tires' fault.

[aviatrixx]

Why are you bigots immediately assuming the people involved were illegal aliens? Quite frankly, I would rather have illegal immigrants living next door to me than you hateful trash!

[twmat311]

One hundred years from now, I hate to think there will still be people who will still say "funny names, different skin, different faces" - sad, seems it's the only constant over time. Stupid never learns.

[cherrybrown]

This is what happens in a 3rd World Country where there are no car seat/seat belt laws.

[freepress6]

How sad. I grew up in Texas and after high school graduation in '61 where I had attended, four guys who were friends of mine died in a car crash. Sterling Greenwood/Aspen

[nomorelibs]

Sad story. Let just hope they don't start outlawing SUV's now.

[mollydtt]

What a bizarre statement. What about seat belts?

[freepress6]

They'll outlaw junk food before SUV's and the shakes'n fries lobby will never let that happen, I don't think. Sterling Greenwood/Aspen

[melbatom]

MAIN QUESTION: Where did that van come from???? Why did they have that many kids in it?? There is something wrong here and I hope the police take the trouble to check it out. It was a clear violation of the road rules of Texas.