5 young people killed in crash on Hutchinson River Parkway
SCARSDALE, N.Y. - There was an unimaginable tragedy in Westchester County early Sunday morning
Five kids died in an overnight crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway, and we've learned they're all related.
Police say the driver was just 16 years old. His grieving father spoke to CBS2's Lisa Rozner and says his son never should have been behind the wheel.
At Westchester County Medical Center, police say a 9-year-old boy is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Emotionally, it will be a long road ahead as police say he is the only person to survive this horrific crash.
Around 12:20 a.m. Sunday, a Nissan Rogue veered off the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale just north of the Mamaroneck Road exit, struck a tree and caught fire.
Police say it was being driven by a 16-year-old boy. He died along with three other males and a female, all ranging in age from 8-17 years old. The sole survivor is a 9-year old boy, who police say was riding in the trunk and escaped out the back.
"They wasn't cousins, they were more brothers. Brothers and sisters, that's how close they are," said Malik Smith, the driver's father.
Over the phone, he told CBS2 his son lived in East New York, Brooklyn, and spent most weekends going to the mall with his cousins who live in Connecticut. He says they were the passengers in the car.
"That's his thing. He goes to the mall. He goes to get his ice cream with his cousin. They go to the movies. They walk around the mall. They do what teenagers and kids do, you know. So that's, it's just, I didn't know he was driving by himself," Smith said.
The full circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, but many people are wondering why the 16-year-old was behind the wheel with so many children in the car and no adult supervision.
"So did he have a permit? Do you know?" Rozner asked.
"No, he didn't," Smith said.
"Were you aware that he was driving in general?" Rozner asked.
"Yeah, I was. 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. Stop doing this," Smith said.
Police say no other vehicles were involved.
Authorities are expected to release the identities of the children on Monday.
Connecticut State Rep. Kara Rochelle posted on Facebook in part, "Terrible, heartbreaking news emerging of five Derby children lost in a crash in New York ... Please keep these children and their family in your prayers."
The father of the driver says his son loved playing basketball and was a good student, beloved in the community.