6-month-old child, and a toddler killed in crash; mother critically injured (Gainesville, FLA)

A baby and a toddler were killed in a crash in Florida earlier Thursday morning, with their mother also hospitalized. 

According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers were called about a traffic collision on Southwest Williston Road near an Interstate 75 on-ramp at about 6 a.m. 

A 6-month-old and a 22-month-old child died in the crash. Police said their 26-year-old mother was also taken to the hospital with critical injuries. 

Video from the scene showed two wrecked vehicles, a car and an electrician’s van.

A couple who witnessed the crash said they rushed over to help.

“When she [the mother] opened the door, she said, ‘My baby, my baby,’” witness Roy Gyles said. “I looked down and the baby was lying between her legs. I picked the baby up, but it was already gone.” 

Witnesses said the van appeared to have run a red light and collided with the woman’s car as she was making a left turn. They also said the children didn’t seem to be in car seats when the crash happened.

“I saw blood, I saw babies on the floor ... they weren’t in car seats,” witness Stephanie McCallister said. “I ran to the other side as soon as [the mother] said she had a second baby, and I pulled him out and put him in my arms. That baby took its last breath in my arms.”

WCJB said its team called the company that owns the van and spoke with the driver’s son. He said the light was yellow when his father entered the intersection.

The van driver was also sent to the hospital for his injuries before being released later in the day. 

Detectives said the crash remains under investigation. Those involved were not immediately identified.