Grieving Families Discuss Fatal Accident Involving Church Van

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- A devastating loss for a Prince George's County community. Five people, including children, are killed in a fiery crash between a church van and a pickup truck. There may never be charges in the accident.

Tracey Leong explains why and has new reaction to this tragedy.

It's still unclear what caused the massive collision. The person responsible died in the crash.

The dramatic calls--heard over the radio from emergency crews. A horrific scene in Hyattsville. A truck slams into a church van carrying 16 people.

"You could not even recognize my grandma. Her face, it was all red. I couldn't see her. My grandpa. It was terrible," said Karen Merche.

Two of those killed -- 75-year-old Santiago Merche and his wife of more than 50 years, 72-year-old Elba Merche.

Their granddaughters are devastated.

"Not being there with them or having them to see me one last time,"

The other two killed in the van -- six-year-old Staily Gomez and a pregnant passenger lost her unborn baby. All members of the church Iglesia Ministerio de Dios Unido in Riverdale.

The congregation was just four miles away from their destination -- the church where they worship every Sunday.

Police may never know why the pickup truck was driving so erratically.

"We are pouring over every aspect, talking to as many witnesses as we can locate and encouraging others to come forward," said Julie Parker, Prince George's County Police Department.

As of now, no one will face charges in this mass casualty incident, since the driver police say was at fault was killed in the crash.

Loved ones are left wondering why this happened.

"Yesterday, they were here. They were talking and laughing. And now, we don't got them no more," said Merche.

Police are working to identity the truck driver. They are also looking into whether drugs or alcohol played a role.

The 13 injured range in age from six months to the late 70s. Some are still in critical condition.