A Connecticut family is grieving the deaths of five children who died in a car crash in Scarsdale, New York.
Authorities say the young driver was driving without a license and lost control of the vehicle, killing himself and four of his cousins and siblings.
One 9-year-old survived, crawling out of the car’s rear hatch just as it burst into flames.
Malik Smith Jr., the 16-year-old driver, did not have a driver’s license or learner’s permit when he crashed a rented 2021 Nissan Rogue on Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester County on the morning of Sunday, March 19.
Riding in the car with Smith Jr. were 17-year-old Anthony Billips Jr.; Zahnyiah Cross, a 12-year-old girl; Shawnell Cross, an 11-year-old girl; Abraham Billips, a 9-year-old; and Andrew Billips, an 8-year-old boy, according to NBC Connecticut.
Officials say he may have fallen asleep or was distracted while driving the cargo of kids, causing the fatal accident around 12:20 in the morning.
Smith’s father said he knew his son had been driving around without accreditation and warned him of the dangers.
“I told him. His mother told him. His older brothers told him stop driving without a license or without a permit. Anything can happen. You can get pulled over. You can get in trouble for these things. Stop doing this,” Malik Smith Sr. said.
In addition to not being authorized to drive, Smith Jr. violated Connecticut and New York driving laws prohibiting underage drivers from driving without an adult between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
“It’s not to get these children into trouble or find anything wrong with them. It’s safety,” said Sgt. Christine Jeltema of the Connecticut State Police, according to FOX 61. “We want to make sure they can go places and get those driving habits as they get older and more experienced.”
Despite that, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “We’re less concerned at this point about who to blame than to understand exactly what happened.”
Westchester County officials said a preliminary investigation did reveal that speed was not a factor and the cause of death, as of now, has been determined to be blunt force trauma from injuries sustained in the impact.
Local politicians from both states are addressing the crash — and the loss of young life with care.
“These are individuals who had their whole life ahead of them. There are so many things that have been denied to them. The opportunity to grow up and live a full life,” said Latimer.
