5 Members Of Family Dead As Van Smashes Into Honda In Hesperia
HESPERIA (CBSLA.com/AP) — A spokeswoman with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department says that five people are confirmed dead after a van smashed into a car that was waiting at a stop sign.
The collision happened just before 7 a.m. Sunday in Hesperia at Main Street and Balsam Avenue.
Jodi Miller of the sheriff's department says that the white Ford van hit the blue Honda, which was carrying five people, and "came to rest" on top of it.
Authorities confirmed to CBS2 that the victims were a man and a woman, and three juveniles.
Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene while two others died at area hospitals.
A fifth victim, who was initially concealed due to extreme structural damage, was located by afternoon.
The driver of the van -- a man in his 30s -- sustained only minor injuries, officials said. He was treated at the scene.
The cause is still under investigation.
CBS2's Art Barron said the van crossed the center divider, flipped and slammed into the Honda that was waiting at a stop sign.
Bernard Fitzsimons, a witness, said "The van was just sitting on top of the car. Someone pulled the driver out and he was bleeding from the head. And then I saw them take out a child and then a man."
Barron said the dead were a man and a woman in their 30s, sitting up front, and a boy and girl between 5 and 6 in the backseat.
Nearly seven hours after the crash, while heavy equipment removed the van from on top of the Honda, a fifth victim -- a young boy -- was found inside the vehicle.
Cristy Fajardo, reporting for KCAL9 Sunday, said the victims were all members of the same family.
She spoke to grieving family of the victims who told her the family included a 25-year-old mom, her husband and their three children -- a 9-year-old boy, a 2-year-old boy and a girl who was turning 5 on Monday.
In fact, the family was on their way to Disneyland to celebrate the little girl's birthday when they were killed.
Witness Kayla Sanchez lives across the street from the crash. She ran to help.
"Very loud sounds, screeching. You could tell something was wrong out here," Sanchez said.
Anyone with more information about the crash was asked to call the Hesperia station.
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