Five children were killed in Scarsdale, New York, on Sunday after the group’s SUV crashed into a tree shortly after midnight and caught fire.
According to local police, the vehicle was driven by a 16-year-old boy who, for unknown reasons, went off the road and crashed into a tree in Westchester County.
A nine-year-old boy riding in the ‘tailgate/cargo area’ survived the crash and escaped from the vehicle.
The parents of the five children – aged 8 to 17 – posted heartbreaking tributes on social media on Sunday afternoon.
“This is the most painful post I’ve ever had to write in my life,” father Anthony Billips said in a Facebook post. “We wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone in this world.”
Relatives posted this photo of the three kids — all related — to a GoFundMe after they died in the car crash in Scarsdale, New York
Five children were killed in Scarsdale, New York, on Sunday after the group’s SUV crashed into a tree shortly after midnight and caught fire
One of the victims (pictured) was posted online by grieving relatives after the fiery crash
According to WABC, police said the 16-year-old who was behind the wheel may have fallen asleep causing him and the Nissan Rogue to drift off the road.
After hitting the tree, the car caught fire, killing the driver, three young boys and two girls, all from Derby, Connecticut.
The children’s names and respective ages are not known at this time, but relatives have posted tributes and photos of the deceased.
In a GoFundMe post set up by relatives, grieving relatives depicted seven individuals in a mix of group and selfie shots of the deceased.
“They’re all teens or younger, unfortunately,” O’Leary said.
Speaking to the media, Westchester Police Department spokesman Kieran O’Leary said the only child who survived could “somehow come through the back.”
The 9-year-old boy who survived was taken to Westchester Medical Center. His condition was stable on Sunday afternoon.
The crash is still being investigated as the family mourns the losses.
In social media posts, the family has asked friends and loved ones for prayers and thoughts during the difficult time.
“Lord Jesus, I don’t understand why you had to take our babies from us,” wrote Nicole Cross – who said her children perished in the wreck.
“Please give us the strength Lord God,” Cross said.
“These kids didn’t deserve this, why is this happening, please keep my family in your prayers…. I don’t know what to do or how to deal with this. God, please help us,” the grieving woman wrote.
“This is the most painful post I’ve ever had to write in my life,” father Anthony Bilips (pictured) said in a Facebook post. It is clear that he is the father of some of the five deceased children
A GoFundMe set up by the family. In the image, the grieving relatives uploaded photos showing seven individuals – five of whom died in the crash. Their names have not yet been announced
According to WABC, police said the 16-year-old who was behind the wheel may have fallen asleep, causing him and the Nissan Rogue to drift off the road.
After hitting the tree, the car caught fire, killing the driver, three young boys and two girls, all from Derby, Connecticut.
The family also started one GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses for the five children who died.
“I’m doing a fundraiser to help bury our lost children,” wrote Da’Shawna Cross, who identifies herself as one of the mothers of the murdered children.
“We as parents have lost 5 of our children in a very tragic accident and are in urgent need of help to provide them with great home care,” reads the fundraiser’s description.
The GoFundMe has a goal of $50,000 and stands at just over $6,500 by Sunday night.
“Please anything will help, we just want our babies to rest,” the mother wrote in her heartbreaking plea.
The donation section has since been flooded with people leaving their thoughts and prayers for the family.
“I can’t even imagine how much pain this family is going through. I pray that God helps them find peace and healing,” one person wrote.
“May their memories be a blessing,” said another person who left a donation.
“You and your family are in my prayers. God bless you,” one person wrote.
In a statement to WABC, the superintendent of the local Connecticut school district where the family lives called the event “the unimaginable.”
Superintendent Matt Conway said he reached out to one of the parents to offer condolences and resources if the family is in need.
‘It’s the unimaginable. It’s very difficult for anyone to make arrangements now for five of your children to be buried — one child, let alone five, for which you’re going to have to make arrangements now,” Conway said.
According to Business Insiderthe town where the crash took place is posh Scarsdale, a town of about 18,000 people.
In 2020, the city had a median household income of $452,000, making it the second richest city in the US that year, just behind any city near Silicon Valley.
Scarsdale is just 35 miles north of New York City.
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