Child Killed, 8 Injured In Multi-Vehicle Crash In East Falls
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) –Police say a young boy is dead and eight others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash Sunday in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.
Two cars collided around 4 p.m., authorities say, along the 4200 block of Henry Avenue, close to the Philadelphia University campus.
"Nine people transported to the hospital, five adults, four children," said Capt. Clifford Gilliam of the Philadelphia Fire Department.
A boy between the ages of five and seven was pronounced dead at the hospital. On Monday, police identified the boy as 6-year-old Eric Barksdale-Perez. Officials say Barksdale-Perez was transported to St. Christopher's Hospital with severe head injuries.
Authorities also announced the death of Zaire Ross-Wilson who was transported to the hospital in critical condition with head injuries, a broken leg, a broken pelvis, a ruptured kidney and a lacerated liver.
Among the others injured are a baby just a few months old, in critical condition at St. Christopher's Hospital. The other two children are also in critical condition at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Four of the adults injured are critical as well.
Police say one car with three adults and four children was traveling northbound on Henry Avenue, when it crossed over the center line. That car was then hit by a southbound car carrying two adults. Two of the children in the first car were ejected from the back window.
"Vehicles stopped and everybody rendered aid as much as they could until the arrival of the first responders," Gilliam said.
Those who stopped included two off-duty police officers.
"Both of those officers stopped and rendered assistance to the patients," Gilliam said. "One officer actually went with the medic unit while working on one of the children."
It is not clear at this time if weather was a factor or if the children had proper car seats. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor, investigators say.
Crews remained on the scene through Sunday night investigating.
CBS 3's Anita Oh and Trang Do contributed to this story.