Driver Who Caused Fiery Crash That Killed 5 Identified

The pickup truck driver who died fleeing a hit-and-run accident, and then slammed into a church van carrying 16 people, has been identified by authorities.

The driver of the truck and three occupants of the van were pronounced dead on the scene Sunday, Prince George County Police said. A pregnant woman in the van suffered serious injuries and had to have emergency surgery, police said. Her baby was lost.

Police say the driver of the pickup truck was Medardo Flores, 30, of Rittenshouse Street in Chillum.

Three victims who died in the van were identified as: Staily Gomez, 6, of Piney Branch Road in Northwest Washington, along with Santiago Merche, 75, and his wife, Elba Merche, 72, of Ingram Street in Northwest Washington.

The couple is survived by eight children and 35 grandchildren, NBC Washington reports.

Police said Flores was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run accident when he lost control of the truck, crossing double yellow lines. He crashed into the van in the 2100 block of Chillum Road, police said.

The truck burst into flames when it hit, police said, a crash described by rescuers as “horrific.”

The surviving 13 occupants of the van were taken to various hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, police said. The victims ranged in age from six months old to the 70s, police said.

Police are investigating whether the passengers in the van were wearing seat belts and if the children were in the proper safety seats.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at(301) 731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous call Crime Solvers at1-866-411-TIPS, text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com.

»Photo of fatal crash scene used with permission of Twitter user Steve Ramzi‏@KRUZ8ER