Two people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in an accident when a passenger van carrying 13 people flipped several times on Interstate 390 near Wayland, New York, en route to Niagara Falls from Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred around 9:15 am on Saturday, August 19, and was attributed to a rear-wheel malfunction, which caused the driver, Afrian Andrade-Delores, 41, to lose control and strike a median.
The New York State Police reported that the van, a 2005 Ford, was transporting three Pennsylvania families to the popular tourist destination. A young boy, Alex Andrade, 12, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining 12 were taken to various hospitals. The pregnant woman, Margarita Ramirez-Luna, 40, later succumbed to her injuries. Two of the injured passengers were airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for emergency treatment. The ages of those in the van ranged from 1-43.
Photos of the van show extensive damage, with the rear doors folding inward, several dents on the passenger side, a shattered windshield, and multiple dents on the roof.
The baby of the pregnant woman who lost her life in the accident, was successfully delivered and is currently undergoing further evaluation at Strong Memorial Hospital, according to Trooper Commander Brian J. Ratajczak.
The identities of all of the victims have not been released, and the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
