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Six Dead In Bronx Church Van Rollover Accident In Upstate New York

Six people from a small Bronx church were pronounced dead on the scene in a horrific 15-passenger van accident on the New York State Thruway on September 17. Among the van crash victims were the pastor of the church, Simon White, and his wife, Zelda.

According to survivors, members of the Joy Fellowship Christian Assemblies church of Eastchester were driving to Schenectady to celebrate the anniversary of another church. Fourteen church members, mostly Jamacian immigrants were riding in the 1997 Ford passenger van when one of the rear tires blew, causing the van to lose control and then roll several times. A number of passengers were thrown from the van, while the group’s belongings were strewn across the highway just after exit 16 on the Thruway. Many of the emergency responders were shocked and saddened at the scene.

Four of the eight injured van passengers were flown by helicopter to nearby hospitals while the other four were rushed by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York. Half were listed in critical condition, while the other half were listed in stable condition. The others killed in the van accident were Associate Pastor Titus McGhie, Avril Murray, Evelyn Ferguston, and Elaine Reid. The 60 members of the small church gathered on the day of the van crash in the Bronx to mourn, support each other, and hear news about survivors.

Fifteen passenger vans have long been known to be prone to deadly rollover crashes, especially in association with a tire blowout.

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