Police Confirm Shocking Twist After 5 Kids Killed In New York

Police released shocking new details as they continue to investigate a fatal crash that killed five children, all unlicensed, in the Hudson Valley.

On Sunday, March 19, five children were killed in a fiery crash on Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale, New York.

Five Youths Kills In Crash Crash On Hutchinson River Parkway

Victims Identified

The victims were identified as 16-year-old Malik Smith Jr., 17-year-old Anthony Billips Jr., 12-year-old Zahnyiah Cross, Shawnell Cross, 11, and 8-year-old Andrew Billips.

Police confirmed all six are related. All recently moved from New York to Connecticut.

Officials said Malik was driving the car without a license at the time of the crash. Smith also did not have a learner's permit. The car veered off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire.

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16-Year-Old Driver Was Unlicensed

"The driver did not turn with the roadway, continued in a straight line, hit a boulder and then hit a tree head-on," Westchester County Executive George Latimer during a Monday press conference. "The car was engulfed in flames at that point."

Officials believe Smith either fell asleep or was distracted moments before the crash. The Nissan Rogue was rented by a relative but it's unclear how Smith had access to the vehicle.

Police Believe Children Were Panhandling In New Jersey Moments Before Fatal Crash

The investigation into the crash has determined the children may have been panhandling shortly before the fatal crash, the New York Post reports.

Surveillance footage from a New Jersey mall shows the children approaching strangers at the mall house before the accident “in a way that suggested they were panhandling," police say.

Read More: Warning: Many New York State Drivers On Verge of Losing License

Police believe the footage suggests the children were begging for money.