Six young girls were killed after a collision on a Tennessee highway seemingly ejected them from the vehicle they were riding in early March 26, first responders say.
Just before 2 a.m. Sunday, Robertson County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a collision on Interstate 24 near Springfield, where they found nine victims of a two-vehicle crash, according to a statement released on Robertson County EMS’ Facebook page.
One vehicle, a red Toyota Camry, was found upside down with seven of its eight passengers seemingly ejected from the vehicle, according to local outlet WSMV. The other vehicle, a pickup truck, appeared to have crashed into a concrete barrier on the interstate shoulder, a half-mile away from where the red Camry came to rest on the highway, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Car Flips Into Highway Work Zone, Kills 6 Near Baltimore)
BREAKING: 6 children have died after a crash on I-24 West in Robertson County this morning. @WSMV https://t.co/ApcSpsPYrp
— Ryan Breslin (@RyBrez) March 26, 2023
An adult woman, “believed to have been ejected from the car,” was found outside the Camry in critical condition and was taken by air ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for her injuries, according to Robertson County EMS. Six female children, allegedly ages one to 18, had also been ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead on the scene with injuries that “could not be resuscitated,” the press release continued. The male driver of the car sustained minor injuries in the accident, while the driver of the second vehicle, also a male, reported no injuries, according to the medical officials.
“Our office recognizes the incredible difficulty of this scene. The overwhelming support from our State EMS Office, other agencies and this community is much appreciated,” Robertson County EMS wrote.
Tennessee Highway Patrol continues to investigate what caused the crash. Robertson County EMS announced Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams within the department have been deployed and will work with professional mental health and counseling services for the first responders at the scene.
“Our leadership team will work closely with everyone involved in coming days to ensure those who are interested have access to these important resources. Please keep the families and persons involved in your thoughts and prayers,” the press release concluded.