4 die as mom drives minivan into NY river
Source: Agencies |
April 14, 2011, Thursday
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A 10-YEAR-OLD boy escaped through the window of a minivan and swam to shore to get help just as his mother drove the van into New York's Hudson River, killing herself and three other children, police said yesterday.
Lashanda Armstrong, 25, drove the minivan into the river off a boat ramp in the city of Newburgh about 8pm on Tuesday, shortly after a domestic incident, police said. The van went into the river just six blocks from where the family lived in this faded city about 100 kilometers north of New York City.
Fire Chief Michael Vatter said a passer-by saw Lashaun Armstrong come out of the river, picked up the soaking wet boy and took him to a nearby fire department. Vatter said the boy was so distraught that he had difficulty talking but ultimately told firefighters what happened. Rescuers rushed to the river but it was too late to save the victims.
In the van with Lashanda Armstrong were Landon Pierre, five, Lance Pierre, two, and 11-month-old Lainaina Pierre, police said. Her husband and the father of the three dead children, Jean Pierre, was questioned. Police would not give details of the interview or say if the father had been charged with anything.
Shortly before she drove the van into the river, a relative called police to report a domestic incident at Armstrong's apartment. By the time police got there, Armstrong and her children were gone. They said there was no history of domestic violence at the address.
Firefighters and police officers responded with boats. Divers searched for the minivan for about an hour before finding it about 25 meters offshore. Everyone inside was dead.
Armstrong lived in an apartment in a gritty part of this humble river city. Several neighbors yesterday recalled her as an attentive mother who balanced care of her children with an outside job. They were shocked by the news.
"She was a very good mom," said Tina Claybourne, who lives nearby. "She took care of her kids. She always was with her kids."
Newburgh, with about 30,000 residents, sits on the western shore of the part of the river that runs south through New York state and eventually splits New York and New Jersey.
Lashanda Armstrong, 25, drove the minivan into the river off a boat ramp in the city of Newburgh about 8pm on Tuesday, shortly after a domestic incident, police said. The van went into the river just six blocks from where the family lived in this faded city about 100 kilometers north of New York City.
Fire Chief Michael Vatter said a passer-by saw Lashaun Armstrong come out of the river, picked up the soaking wet boy and took him to a nearby fire department. Vatter said the boy was so distraught that he had difficulty talking but ultimately told firefighters what happened. Rescuers rushed to the river but it was too late to save the victims.
In the van with Lashanda Armstrong were Landon Pierre, five, Lance Pierre, two, and 11-month-old Lainaina Pierre, police said. Her husband and the father of the three dead children, Jean Pierre, was questioned. Police would not give details of the interview or say if the father had been charged with anything.
Shortly before she drove the van into the river, a relative called police to report a domestic incident at Armstrong's apartment. By the time police got there, Armstrong and her children were gone. They said there was no history of domestic violence at the address.
Firefighters and police officers responded with boats. Divers searched for the minivan for about an hour before finding it about 25 meters offshore. Everyone inside was dead.
Armstrong lived in an apartment in a gritty part of this humble river city. Several neighbors yesterday recalled her as an attentive mother who balanced care of her children with an outside job. They were shocked by the news.
"She was a very good mom," said Tina Claybourne, who lives nearby. "She took care of her kids. She always was with her kids."
Newburgh, with about 30,000 residents, sits on the western shore of the part of the river that runs south through New York state and eventually splits New York and New Jersey.
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