Cops: Weather Played Factor In Crash That Killed 2, Injured Several
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- New information is being released about a deadly crash in East Falls that claimed two lives and sent several others, including an infant to the hospital yesterday.
Police now say a six-year-old boy and a 20-year-old have died as a result of the accident.
Philadelphia Police say weather conditions played a factor in the crash on Henry Avenue.
New details on fatal Henry Ave crash. PPD: Weather "did play a major factor" 6 yr old boy killed. 7 month old girl among 8 people injured.
— Tim Jimenez (@TimJimenezKYW) May 2, 2016
The accident happened around 4 Sunday afternoon on Henry Avenue at Hermit Lane. Police say a Mazda 6 with three adults and four kids inside was going north at this curve when it spun into the other lane, and a car going south, with two adults in it, had no time to swerve out of the way so it was a t-bone crash.
What was the impact like? Police say the two adults in the front seat of the first car were ejected, and the six-year-old boy, identified as Eric Barksdale Perez, would die at the hospital with head injuries, after being partially ejected.
The 20-year-old male, identified as Ziare Ross-Wilson, was pronounced dead later.
Philadelphia Police Captain John Wilczynski says, "If everyone was restrained we clearly would see less severe injuries for sure, and maybe not anybody killed, but you really don't know because you can still get an internal injury from a crash like that. But it is always advisable to wear a seat belt, especially with children like that."
"It was not a safe way to travel."
The infant has severe head and abdominal injuries.
In all, several adults were hurt, four with serious injuries like a cracked skull, broken bones, ruptured organs.
Police say it doesn't appear any of the drivers were impaired, but they say weather was a factor.