A tragic collision in Taunton last night resulted in the death of a nearly 2-year-old girl, with her mother and 5-year-old sibling being hospitalized. According to 7NEWS, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Broadway, also known as Route 138, where officers found a Chevrolet van and a Toyota Rav 4 SUV had been involved in a head-on crash.
The preliminary investigation suggests that the Rav 4, driven by a 25-year-old woman, had to have crashed into the van, which was carrying four men who all reported no injuries. Both of the woman's young children were in the Rav 4 during the collision. They were transported to Rhode Island Hospital shortly after the incident, where the youngest child was pronounced dead, and the 5-year-old was said to be in stable condition.
Authorities, including the Massachusetts State Police and the Taunton Police Department, are conducting an ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash. MassLive reported that upon arrival at the scene, authorities found the van "centered in the northbound lane in the correct direction of travel," as stated by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. The men in the van remained at the scene and cooperated with officers.
No charges have been filed as the state detectives from Quinn's office have yet to fully unravel what led to the fatal incident. "The investigation was “active” and that no additional information could be released," per Quinn in a statement noted by MassLive.
