MENALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Eight people, including six children, were taken to local hospitals after a car crash in Menallen Township, according to Fayette County 911.
PHOTOS: 8 people, including 6 children, injured in Menallen Township car crash
The crash happened at Route 51 and Upper Middletown Road at 10:38 a.m.
Fayette County dispatch said initial reports indicate eight people were injured in the crash, including two children. That number was later updated to six children.
Pennsylvania state police told Channel 11 the children were in a Mercedes van that was t-boned by a Chrysler 200.
State police said the driver of the Chrysler was able to exit the car before it went up in flames.
Witnesses told Channel 11′s Cara Sapida that the scene was chaotic, as drivers stopped to help children. Some even grabbed fire extinguishers to try and put out the flames.
“Seemed like a pretty serious accident, car on fire, transit van looked like it was t-boned,” said Craig Newman, who witnessed the accident.
The Mercedes van had six kids on board. State police said three of them were young teenagers, along with a 6-year-old, an almost 2-year-old and a 5-month-old baby.
Newman works across the street from where the crash happened. He called 911 and ran to the scene in time to see the other vehicle involved, a Chrysler 200, up in flames.
“It was completely engulfed,” Newman explained. “Some folks were trying to put it out with fire extinguishers, but then the fire department showed up. It looked like it was gonna explode but fortunately, it did not.”
The call came in saying multiple people were trapped, including children.
“There was just a lot of screaming going on,” Newman said. “There was one guy holding a young kid, looked to be 5 or 6, everyone else was still seat belted into the van and when the one gentleman was trying to get the side door opened but he did get them out the back.”
The children and the driver of the car were taken to the hospital.
State police haven’t released any conditions, but told Channel 11 the children do not have any major injuries.
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