PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Two children and their mother were killed in a crash Sunday night on Interstate 75 in Pembroke Pines.
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky said a car overturned in the northbound lanes of I-75 near Sheridan Street at about 10:15 p.m.
According to troopers, the 2001 Buick LeSabre ran off the road, veered to the left into a construction zone and overturned several times.
Authorities said eight people were inside the vehicle and nearly all were ejected from the car.
A 30-year-old woman who is the mother to all of the six children inside the car was killed.
Her 5-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son were also killed in the crash.
"We don't know where everybody was sitting at this time," Wysocky said. "We assume that that driver and right front passenger was the mother, the female. They were in the front seat and obviously the kids were in the back seat."
Troopers said the driver, who is the father to one of the children, was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in critical condition.
The surviving children, a 4-year-old girl, 16-month-old girl, 6-year-old boy and 9-year-old boy, are also at the hospital in various conditions.
The crash remains under investigation.
Authorities said the tragic event is a reminder for everyone to wear their seatbelts.
"Wear seatbelts and make sure kids are buckled up and make sure kids are in the proper child restraint, whether it's a car seat or a booster seat," Wysocky said.
The identities of the victims haven't been released pending notification of next-of-kin.