Posted at: 11/28/2009 10:38 PM | WHEC.com

Minivan packed with kids involved in deadly accident

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A minivan packed with children blew a tire, clipped a delivery truck and rolled on a Louisiana interstate Saturday, killing five people and critically injuring another 10, state police said.

Thirteen children riding without seatbelts were thrown from the van, including four of the dead who were found in the median of Interstate 10 near Baton Rouge, Louisiana State Police said. All those killed and injured were aboard the GMC Safari minivan, and
some were related, police spokesman Russell Graham said.

The van didn't have enough seatbelts for the 13, and capacity likely wouldn't have exceeded 10, Graham said. The driver, who was killed, and a front-seat passenger, appeared to be the only ones wearing seatbelts.

The crash occurred after the front tire blew out on the driver's side, Lt. Doug Cain said. The van then hit the delivery truck traveling in the same direction, rolled about 200 feet across the median and landed on its tires in the oncoming lanes. No other
vehicles were involved.

Some in the van were family members from Harvey, La., which is about 75 miles southeast of the crash site, Graham said. The van was headed west on I-10, but Graham did not know where it was going.

"The Louisiana Legislature just passed a law making it mandatory to wear seatbelts in both the front and back seats," Graham said. "This is a good illustration of why they did."

The 10 survivors were in critical condition Saturday afternoon at two Baton Rouge hospitals, Graham said.

Alcohol was not suspected in the crash, police said.

The driver of the truck managed to steer to the side of the road and was not injured.

The interstate was closed in both directions for about three hours Saturday afternoon. No identities were immediately released.