A mother and daughter were killed while six others, including the woman’s four other children, were injured in a multi-vehicle crash in Delaware late Wednesday night.
The family identified the mother and daughter as Karisma Stevens and Zamiyah Stevens, respectively.
The crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Christiana Road in New Castle. A 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with a Stevens and her five children inside was stopped at a traffic light in the eastbound lanes of Christiana Road at the intersection with Airport Road.
At the same time, a 2022 Kia K5 was speeding westbound on Christiana Road, investigators said. As the Dodge entered the intersection to turn onto Airport Road, the Kia continued westbound on Christiana, entered the intersection and failed to stop at the red traffic light, according to investigators.
The Kia then struck the right side of the Dodge, causing the Dodge to spin and roll over, police said. The impact also caused the Kia to cross a cement median and strike a 2020 Hyundai Tuscon that was about to turn right onto Christiana Road from Airport Road, according to investigators.
Surveillance video from a nearby gas station shows one of the vehicles involved in the crash skidding on the roadway and flipping over as sparks fly.
The driver of the Dodge, a 29-year-old Stevens, as well as her 10-year-old daughter Zamiyah, were both killed in the crash.
Police have still not revealed the identities of those involved in the crash.
Stevens four other children who were inside the Dodge were taken to the hospital. According to the uncle of the children, one of his niece’s is in critical condition.
Both the driver of the Kia, a 26-year-old man from Wilmington, Delaware, and the driver of the Hyundai, a 43-year-old woman from Bear, Delaware, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
The road was closed for about six hours before it reopened.
Stevens’ brother said she had just got her associate’s degree and was a loving mother to five girls. They were all riding with her at the time of the crash while she was driving for a food delivery service to make extra money for her family.
She had just finished her last drop and was headed home when the crash took place just around the corner from their home.
“It’s sad. It’s sad to see a fatality like that, someone get killed because someone was speeding,” Al Shakeel of New Castle said.