A kindergarten-age boy was killed and his parents and young sister were injured yesterday when their car was smashed between two other vehicles in a violent collision in the Accokeek area of Prince George's County, county police said.
The crash occurred about 3:20 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Indian Head Highway at Berry Road as the family's Chevrolet Cavalier was stopped behind another vehicle in a left-turn lane, according to Cpl. Timothy Estes, a county police spokesman.
Estes said a Buick Regal plowed into the Cavalier from behind, ramming it into the car in front, a BMW.
The family in the Cavalier is from Ijamsville, Md., Estes said. Their names were not immediately available.
The small boy, who was estimated to be about 5 years old, was dead on arrival at Fort Washington Medical Center, Estes said. The mother was listed in critical but stable condition last night at Washington Hospital Center. The father was listed in fair condition there.
The girl, whose age was estimated at about 18 months, was taken to Children's Hospital. Her condition was described as good.
Authorities said the father was driving, with the mother seated next to him and the children in the back, in safety seats.
Estes described the driver of the Buick as a 35-year-old man from Riverdale. He was accompanied by a 5-year-old girl, Estes said. He said they received what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not identify them.
The driver of the BMW, Lawrence Hayden, 61, of Lewes, Del., was treated at the scene for what appeared to be minor injuries, Estes said.
He said the force of the crash knocked the BMW into the northbound lanes of Indian Head Highway. The Cavalier in which the family was riding came to rest at the intersection on a triangular center island with an eight-inch curb. The Buick continued south on the highway for "about a block," Estes said.
Jack Montgomery, chief of the Accokeek Volunteer Fire Department, said the girl was pulled out of the Cavalier through a window. He said extrication tools were required to free the other three family members from the wrecked car.
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