5 Dead, Including Unborn Child, After Church Van Crash: Police

The Prince George County Police Department is investigating a crash that killed five, including an unborn child, after a pickup truck fleeing a hit-and-run crashed into a church van carrying 16 people, the department announced Monday.

The driver of the truck and three occupants of the van were pronounced dead on the scene, police said. A pregnant woman in the van suffered serious injuries and had to have emergency surgery, police said. Her baby was lost.

Police said the pickup truck was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run when he lost control of the truck, crossing double yellow lines. He slammed into the van in the 2100 block of Chillum Road, police said.

The truck burst into flames when it hit, police said.

The surviving 13 occupants of the van were taken to various hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, police said. The victims haven’t yet been identified, pending family notification, and ranged in age from six months old to the 70s, police said.

Police are investigating whether the passengers in the van were wearing seat belts and if the children were in the proper safety seats.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at(301) 731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous call Crime Solvers at1-866-411-TIPS, text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) or go towww.pgcrimesolvers.com.