NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – Three teenage soccer players were killed early Saturday after they were struck by an SUV in North Miami, authorities said.
Officer Natalie Buissereth, a spokeswoman for the North Miami Police Department, said the teens were were waiting for a bus to travel to a soccer tournament in Weston around 5:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Northeast 125th Street when the driver of a black SUV hit them.
"It appears as through the driver of the vehicle lost control of the vehicle and somehow went on the sidewalk and struck the kids," Buissereth said.
The victims were identified as Gideon Desir, 13; Lens Desir, 15; and Richecarde Dumay, 17.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics transported the driver of the SUV to Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, where she is listed in serious condition.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, police said.
The teenagers’ soccer team gathered with grief counselors Saturday afternoon at Little Haiti Soccer Park in Miami.
"The coaches are very saddened, very distraught at this time and they had a very, very good relationship, super relationship," said Mike Davis, a neighborhood pastor.
Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.