8 Killed in N.Y. Parkway Crash

(CBS/AP)  A family's minivan going in the wrong direction crashed into two cars on a suburban parkway on Sunday, killing eight people, including four young cousins and the mother of one of them.

CBS News correspondent Terrell Brown reported that the minivan's lone surivor, a 5-year-old boy, is in stable condition in a hospital.

State police Investigator Joseph Becerra said the minivan was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County, just north of New York City, when it struck an SUV and then careened into a third vehicle. The minivan rolled down an embankment, where it burst into flames.

The minivan's front end appeared to have been almost entirely smashed in, and its shell was scorched and bent. At least one wheel was blown out.

The woman driving the minivan and four of the five children inside it were killed, Becerra said. They were part of a family from Floral Park and West Babylon, on Long Island.

The children who died were girls ages 2, 5, 7 and 9. The fifth child, the 5-year-old boy, was hospitalized.

The minivan's driver was the mother of the surviving child, and the other children were her nieces and her daughter, Becerra said.

Hawthorne fire Chief Joe LaGrippo, among the first people to arrive at the scene, said the boy suffered significant head trauma.

LaGrippo said that when he got there the minivan was engulfed in flames. He said one of the children was dead, and three others were near death.

"We go out quite frequently, but thank God we've never seen anything of this magnitude," LaGrippo said. "You just don't get used to these kinds of calls."

Three men from Yonkers in the SUV were killed, Becerra said. Two people in the third vehicle were hospitalized.

The parkway, which stretches about 100 miles from Valhalla, in Westchester County, to East Chatham, in Columbia County, was closed to traffic in both directions in the area for hours following the afternoon crash.

It was the second wrong-way crash on the parkway on Sunday. Five people were injured in an early morning collision between two vehicles, one of which was headed northbound in the southbound lanes. That accident occurred about 20 miles north of the later incident.

The scenic Taconic State Parkway was built over a number of years in stages beginning in the early 1920s, initially as an extension of the Bronx Parkway from New York City to Bear Mountain Bridge.

[author22]

Re: Above post, those are speed typos on Taconic; impaired

[author22]

hebegebe1 is totally correct.

The ONLY way to stop impaired drivers, whether drunk, drugged or as this woman most likely was, sickly, is to install tire spikes on EVERY exit ramp, especially on the Taconice which I drive every two weeks to visit my family.

I travel at the speed limit and most drivers are passing me at 10 to 20 mph above the limit.

Adding hazardous and impaied drivers traveling the wrong way and even when other drivers are calling in 911 and flashing their lights is proof enough the driver is no longer able to operate a vehicle. If she had been tire spiked those poor children would most likely be alive now.

I pray for both families and ask the DOT to amend this Dangerous prioblem with tire spikes on every Taconic exit.

Don't just sit there complaining. Email and call the NY state dot and demand tire spikes now.

https://www.nysdot.gov/main/feedback-form

[NyStateisPoor]

When is confirmed that this woman dwas drunk as hell are you people still going to be blaming the condition of the parkway?

[Jcal805]

WOWWWWWWWWW You have alot of nerve This woman suffered and so did 5 children. And where are your BALLS that you have the nerve to assume. Clearly you are an ignorant human being with no respect for the families who are grieving. grow up and **** your mouth until you know what your talking about

[debinok1]

My first question when this article first hit the web was how did this vehicle end up going the wrong direction, that has not been addressed. It is a very concerning to think that this is something that may happen again, especially if the exit ramp is not clearly marked or if it is feeding traffic onto the freeway in an uncertain direction that could confuse a driver that is unfamiliar with the road.

[pete_in_az]

You should see the size of the books that dictate how roads are constructed. And which book(s) you use depends on whose paying for and where it is and what its called and on and on and on and on. You can thank the lawyers of this fine country. Only met one broke lawyer in my life, thats what using that degree for the good of people will get you.

My thoughts go out to the families involved in this senseless tragedy.

[jetranger7]

need to look into the Signage, as to how the Signs are posted if their having problems like this, maybe a change in Signs that are less confusing,, I'll be researching this throughly !

[Phxfire]

These posts that lack any imagination or credibility, not to mention belittles and disrespects the victimes, exposes you for the small-minded, unthinking and loser that you are.

Obviously there is a deadly problem with this stretch of highway, for whatever reason. And several families will now have to deal with the deadening emotions for the rest of their lives. I hope they find strength and comfort from thoughtful friends and families and can avoid or ignore the hurtful comments.

[hebegebe1]

Install tire spike strips at the ramp off of the parkway so that when a car gets in the wrong way the four tires get deflated and the driver stops before it is too late.