An over-filled SUV rolled over along I-20 yesterday afternoon, leading to the deaths of five children. The family was on its way to the water park Splash Kingdom near Canton, Texas. It’s not clear what caused the accident, but the SUV veered off the interstate and rolled several times before coming to a stop upside down. There were twelve passengers in the GMC Envoy which only has proper seating for seven.
Photo from WFAA
Ten of the twelve passengers were children. Nine of the children were ejected from the car during the accident. Reports say that the children did not have safety seats and were not properly buckled in. The Department of Public Safety released the names and ages of the deceased children: 13-year-old Rosvaelia Jaimes, 7-year-old Omar Jaimes, 6-year-old Saideth Acuna, 3-year-old Ulisa Acuna, and 2-year-old Judith Jaimes.
The other six children were taken to Tyler Hospital where one was in critical condition. The two adults in the Envoy were also injured and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Investigators believe that many of the people in the vehicle were related but language barriers created some initial confusion about identity. The family is from Marshall, Texas.
The media is continuing to collect reports about the conditions of the injured victims and factors that may have caused the accident. As more details emerge check the blog for updates.
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Please remember now that school has started that it is imperative that your family uses the safest car seats for small children and makes sure older children are safely buckled in the car. Accidents which could lead to minor injuries for adults can be fatal for children if they are not carefully placed within the vehicle. Whether it’s a last minute field trip or a hectic drive on the way to school, driving with kids can be stressful – particularly during carpool or family trips where many different children are in the car. No matter what the circumstances, make sure that safety comes first.
