Five Children Killed in Maryland Crash: Evidence Shows No Seat Belts Fastened

Stock photo of police tape. (Carl Ballou/Shutterstock)

A car with seven people crashed into the woods, ramming into several trees, and ejecting five minors from the car, who were then pronounced dead at the scene in Maryland on Feb. 2, 2019. The crash is currently under investigation by the Maryland State Police.

London Dixon, 8; Paris Dixon, 5; Zion Beard 14; Rickelle Ricks, 6; and Damari Herald, 15, were identified in the preliminary investigation, according to the police report. Dominique R. Taylor, 32, and Cornell D. Simon, 23, were the only survivors, with Taylor identified as the driver, and Simon believed to be the front seat passenger.

The Prince George County Fire Department notified Maryland State Police of the crash before 5:00 a.m, which took place on northbound Rt. 301, on Pointer Ridge Drive. It is unknown what caused the crash, but the investigation has indicated that the 2005 Chrysler Pacifica traveled off the highway, and spun onto a snow-covered hill. Somewhere in the chaos, the children were ejected.

Five Children With No Seat Belts

Evidence found that the five children, who are believed to have been the rear passengers, were not wearing seatbelts during the crash. Both adults were wearing seatbelts, and are now being treated at the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center for injuries.

In the press release, it was not stated if the two adults were the parents of the children, while only two of the children had matching last names: Dixon. Three children were from Washington, and all other passengers were from Maryland.

According to Crash Radar, “The 5 children were from the same extended family.”

The Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, sent a tweet a few hours after the incident.

Four Daughters With No Seat Belts

Last year in Delaware, a crash between a minivan and a truck resulted in the death of the four daughters of 61-year-old Audie Trinidad, the driver, who was also pronounced dead at the scene, according to Delaware State Police. It was found that the four girls were not wearing seat belts during the crash.

Trinidad’s wife, and mother of the four daughters, Mary Rose Ballocanag, 56, survived the crash and said that she intends to sue Alvis S. Hubbard, 44: the owner of the Ford pickup truck who crashed into the family’s minivan, according to Patch. Hubbard drove off the southbound side of the road, crossed through the median strip, causing two crashes.

Passengers from all cars involved had their seat belts fastened, except for the four girls, who were the only fatalities in the incident.