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In the News

Five children struck by SUV

An 8-year-old girl was killed and four other children were injured Thursday night in Lewisdale when they were run over by a sport-utility vehicle.

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June 1, 2012

Sonia Venuto places a bouquet of flowers at the accident scene in Lewisdale where five children where hit by a sport-utility vehicle. Venuto said she is a friend from the neighborhood where the victims lived.

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

Margarita Calderon, left, and Yolanda Estrada are friends of Marianable Cruz-Lopez, the SUV’s driver and mother of two of the victims. One of Cruz’s children, Natalie Hernandez-Cruz, 8, died, authorities said. Her 2-year-old son suffered minor injuries. Calderon, who along with Estrada shared a basement apartment with Cruz, said they were moving out when the accident occurred. Prince George’s County police officials said no charges have been filed and that it appears the incident was “simply a devastating accident.”

June 1, 2012

Margarita Calderon, left, and Yolanda Estrada are friends of Marianable Cruz-Lopez, the SUV’s driver and mother of two of the victims. One of Cruz’s children, Natalie Hernandez-Cruz, 8, died, authorities said. Her 2-year-old son suffered minor injuries. Calderon, who along with Estrada shared a basement apartment with Cruz, said they were moving out when the accident occurred. Prince George’s County police officials said no charges have been filed and that it appears the incident was “simply a devastating accident.”

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

A family photo of Natalie Hernandez-Cruz, the 8-year-old girl who died in the accident. Police on Friday said an 11-year-old boy who also was run over was in serious condition. Three other children, a boy who is about to turn 2, a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, suffered minor injuries, police said, and all remained hospitalized.

June 1, 2012

A family photo of Natalie Hernandez-Cruz, the 8-year-old girl who died in the accident. Police on Friday said an 11-year-old boy who also was run over was in serious condition. Three other children, a boy who is about to turn 2, a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, suffered minor injuries, police said, and all remained hospitalized.

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

Maximino Mendez was first at the scene where five children where hit by an SUV. He pulled three of the victims from the wreckage. He lives in the same house in the 2200 block of Hannon Street where the accident happened. Police say the accident happened about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, when Marianable Cruz-Lopez accidentally hit the gas while backing up the driveway of the house and struck the children, who were playing behind the Ford Expedition. “She [Marianable Cruz-Lopez] heard her kids scream, and she ran out of the car and grabbed her 2-year-old, but she didn’t notice her 8-year-old was still stuck,” Mendez said.

June 1, 2012

Maximino Mendez was first at the scene where five children where hit by an SUV. He pulled three of the victims from the wreckage. He lives in the same house in the 2200 block of Hannon Street where the accident happened. Police say the accident happened about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, when Marianable Cruz-Lopez accidentally hit the gas while backing up the driveway of the house and struck the children, who were playing behind the Ford Expedition. “She [Marianable Cruz-Lopez] heard her kids scream, and she ran out of the car and grabbed her 2-year-old, but she didn’t notice her 8-year-old was still stuck,” Mendez said.

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

Elsa Campos and her son, Jose Antonio Valdez, remove her belongings from the house where driver Mariana Cruz-Lopez drove over five children with her SUV. In the background are Margarita Calderon, who also lived in the house, and a friend, Yolanda Estrada. Cruz, Calderon and Campos shared the basement apartment of the house.

June 1, 2012

Elsa Campos and her son, Jose Antonio Valdez, remove her belongings from the house where driver Mariana Cruz-Lopez drove over five children with her SUV. In the background are Margarita Calderon, who also lived in the house, and a friend, Yolanda Estrada. Cruz, Calderon and Campos shared the basement apartment of the house.

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

On Friday, a splotch of dried blood remained on the smashed garage door, where the five children were struck. Elsy Flores-Romero, a neighbor, said she has tried to imagine what Marianable Cruz-Lopez, the driver of the SUV that struck the children and mother of two of the victims, must be feeling. “We can’t judge her, only God can,” Flores-Romero said. “I put myself in the mom’s shoes. Imagine you know you killed your own kid. That’s a horrible feeling to carry for your whole life.”

June 1, 2012

On Friday, a splotch of dried blood remained on the smashed garage door, where the five children were struck. Elsy Flores-Romero, a neighbor, said she has tried to imagine what Marianable Cruz-Lopez, the driver of the SUV that struck the children and mother of two of the victims, must be feeling. “We can’t judge her, only God can,” Flores-Romero said. “I put myself in the mom’s shoes. Imagine you know you killed your own kid. That’s a horrible feeling to carry for your whole life.”

Juana Arias / For The Washington Post

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