Toddler, Pregnant Mom Among Those Who Died In River Crash: Report

MILWAUKEE, WI -- A toddler, her pregnant mother and a man died when their vehicle plunged into the Kinnickinnic River on New Year's Eve. Authorities say they fled Milwaukee Police following multiple armed robberies.

Authorities released the identities of those who died in the crash. They are 19-year-old Shannon Nehmer, 2-year-old Annamelia Hernandez and 29-year-old Charles Barefield. Nehmer was pregnant, according to investigators.

"I don't understand. I don't understand," Kristin Nehmer said in a WTMJ report. "She had a really good heart. She made a bad decision, but she was 19."

According to WISN, a police officer tried pulling over a vehicle that was connected to multiple armed robberies in the city earlier on New Year's Eve. When the driver failed to stop, a police chase ensued, with the vehicle crashing into the river at 8:30 p.m.

Authorities say the first robbery happened just after 7 p.m. Monday when a man doing auto work under his car was robbed at gunpoint. About a half-hour later, two more people were robbed at gunpoint. When an officer on patrol spotted the vehicle, a police chase ensued.

A Journal Sentinel report stated that Milwaukee Fire Department Dive Team members pulled Nehmer from the river shortly after the crash. Despite lifesaving measures, she died at the scene.

Authorities say the bodies of Hernandez and Barefield were pulled from the river several hours later.

3 people died after a car crashed into the KK River NYE. 1 woman was pulled from the car last night. A man and a girl were found today when police pulled the car out. Police are working to contact their family. Their identities have not been released. pic.twitter.com/gZS9wjLMte
— Mary Jo Ola (@MaryJoOlaTV) January" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/MaryJoOlaT... 1, 2019

Photo Credit: This Jan. 1, 2019 screen shot from WISN-TV shows authorities pulling out an SUV from the Kinnickinnic River, a day after it crashed into the river during a police chase. A toddler, her young mother and a man died when their vehicle drove into a frigid river while being chased by the Milwaukee Police. (WISN-TV via AP)