St. Pete Police say a crash left two children dead near the intersection of Tyrone Square Blvd. N and Norfolk St. N.
Just before 1 p.m., a call came in about a Nissan Rogue that crashed into a tree off of Tyrone Blvd. Multiple victims, all children, were rushed to the hospital, police say.
Police say the Nissan was attempting to overtake another car when it hit a tree.
Two adults, two juveniles, and two toddlers were in the car.
Police say a 1 and 1/2-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were pronounced dead after the crash. None were wearing their seatbelts and the car seat was not installed properly.
One of the toddlers is in critical but stable condition.
Maliyah Waters 18, was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and child abuse - aggravated battery - great bodily harm.
According to the national highway traffic safety administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and 13.
Car seats and booster seats can protect children as long as they're properly installed and used correctly every time children are in the car.
There are free resources in our community that can help.
In Pinellas county, Sunstar paramedics will check to make sure any child safety seat is properly installed. So will Johns Hopkins all children's hospital.
They offer both virtual and in-person car seat checks.
Their website has a helpful resource with phone numbers to local fire departments that perform car seat checks.
Anyone who may have information on this crash is asked to call the SSPD non-emergency line at 727-893-7780.
