Pregnant Mother Loses Baby In Hyattsville Crash; Death Toll Rises To 5

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (WJZ)--Five are now dead and dozens injured following a fiery car crash in Hyattsville. A child and an unborn baby are among those who lost their lives.

WJZ's Tracey Leong has more.

Flames bursting from a pickup truck after it slams into a church van carrying 16 people in the 2100 block of Chillum Road.

Dr. Robert Rhodes, who lives nearby said he heard the crash and rushed outside to see flames.

The people in the passenger van belong to a small church congregation, Iglesia Ministerio de Dios Unidos, in Riverdale.

Authorities say they are still trying to figure out who the driver is and notify the passengers' families.

Officials say the pickup truck rear ended another car before colliding with the church van, just a few hundred yards up the road. Moments later, the pickup truck—with its tire on fire—came barreling into the passenger van,

The pickup truck driver and three people in the passenger van including two adults, and one child were pronounced dead at the scene. Overnight, another passenger lost her unborn baby.

Officials concerned the fatalities could still rise.

Thirteen others ranging in age from 6 months to their late 70's are in the hospital, some in critical condition.

Witnesses and emergency responders reacting to one of the most horrific crashes they've seen.

"Anytime you deal with children and fatalities and serious injuries it affects firefighters medics and police,' said Prince George's County Fire spokesperson, Mark Brady.

Police are still looking into whether everyone was wearing a seat belt in the 15-person church van that was holding 16 people at the time of the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.