4 dead, 7 injured in single-vehicle crash on I-95 in Titusville
Toddler survived being tossed from SUV, officials said
UPDATED 10:41 PM EDT May 31, 2016
TITUSVILLE, Fla. —A fourth person has died as a result of a crash on Interstate 95 in Titusville on Monday night.
Troopers believe a front tire on the SUV malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to flip around
Troopers believe a front tire on the SUV malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to flip around 6:40 p.m. Three girls were pronounced dead at the scene, and a fourth person was confirmed dead Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the four deceased are sisters. Their mother was driving the vehicle, authorities said.
The four sisters were identified as Nadia Cruz, 10; Jazmin Cruz; Niashia Cruz, 13; and Amunya Cruz, 15.
Seven others in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, according to the highway patrol.
"We just got hit by flying debris. We were going southbound and it hit our car," a caller told a 911 dispatcher.
Among those injured was a 3-year-old child in a car seat, which was thrown from the vehicle over a 20-foot barrier wall. Rescuers heard the child crying, and at last check, the infant was in stable condition, suffering only minor injuries.
"We believe it was on the left hand side of the roadway, lost control, flipped multiple times, came to rest against the perimeter wall," said Steven Montiero with the Florida Highway Patrol.
"Who would think something like that could even happen? Over the top of that wall?" said local resident Dan Gumieny.
Amunya Cruz attended Leesburg High School.
The school district brought in grief counselors to all of the schools to help students and staff cope.
Niashia Cruz and her sister Jazmin attended Carver Middle School in Leesburg.
Nadia Cruz was a student at Beverly Shores Elementary School. FHP said she died overnight at Arnold Palmer Hospital.
Some Leesburg High School students wore white on Tuesday in memory of Amunya Cruz.
Couselors will be at the schools as long as it takes to help students and staff get through the tragedy.