Tragedy as crash near Disney World leaves four members of the same family dead – including a five-year-old girl whose twin sister survived the pile-up
- Five-year-old Scarlett Smith died but her twin Skylar survived the Florida pile-up
- Her brother Jackson, 11, mom Julie, 41, and grandmother Josephine, 76, also died
- Their van overturned when it was rear-ended by a pick-up truck in heavy traffic
Four members of the same family, including two children, have died in a horrific crash near Disney World, Florida.
Jackson Smith, 11, and his five-year-old sister Scarlett lost their lives in the pile-up along with their mother Julie, 41, and 76-year-old grandmother Josephine Fay.
Four other family members, from Whitman, Massachusetts, including Scarlett’s twin sister Skylar, their father – who was driving – grandfather and a 10-year-old girl all escaped with minor injuries after Tuesday’s crash.
Jackson was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died Wednesday afternoon. His sister, mother and grandmother all died at the scene.
From left to right: Scarlett Smith, 5, her brother Jackson Smith, 11, their mother Julie Smith, 41, and grandmother Josephine Fay, 76, all died in the crash when their van overturned
Four members of the family died and four survived when their van overturned in Florida
Their Toyota van overturned when it was shunted from behind after it slowed for traffic on the southbound State Road 429 in Osceola County at around 5.30pm.
Police said it was rear-ended by a pickup truck driven by Lucas Dos Reis Laurindo, 26, of Kissimmee.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Kim Montes said: ‘We believe everybody was belted, but the father who was driving.’
FHP troopers, victim advocates, social workers, and nurses are providing the surviving members of the family with support at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
‘This family is far away from home,’ Lt. Montes said. ‘We are trying to do as much as we can to support them, but it’s beyond their comprehension.’
A daycare worker who cared for the 5-year old twins in their home town said: ‘It’s unimaginable. They are a beautiful family. Our hearts are broken.’
Jeffrey Szymaniak, the Principal of the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District where the children were pupils, said: ‘It’s awful. It really is.
‘We go hour by hour, day by day as a district but I think the family should be in our thoughts and prayers and as a community, we mourn for them and we mourn for everyone associated with this tragedy in Florida.’
He added that grief counselors would be provided for the victims’ school friends and fellow students.
Police said the pick-up driver had stayed at the scene after the crash and had been cooperative. He didn’t seem impaired and voluntarily gave a blood sample but charges against him are pending.