Four young sisters died and seven other people, including a boy who was ejected from the SUV and launched over a 30-foot-high barrier, were hurt Monday in a single-vehicle crash along Interstate 95 in Brevard County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

  • 4 young girls killed in the crash
  • Boy among 7 people hurt
  • Blown or malfunctioned tire may be cause

Four sisters — Amunya Cruz, 15; Nadia Cruz, 10; Niashia Cruz, 13; and Jasmine Cruz, whose age is unknown — were not wearing seat belts and were ejected. They died from their injuries.

The boy who was ejected from the vehicle was one of 11 people inside a 2006 Dodge Durango SUV when it crashed near Titusville, troopers said. He was thrown from the vehicle and sent over a barrier dividing the highway and a neighborhood.

"That child was actually ejected from the Durango over the perimeter fence," said Trooper Steven Montiero with the Florida Highway Patrol. "Fire and Rescue and other police officers and the Sheriff's Office out in Brevard helped out tremendously to locate that child. They heard the crying of the child and found the car seat."

The child was found in the backyard of a home on the other side of the wall. At last check, the boy was in stable condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.

Troopers said Latorya Brown, 34, from Leesburg, was driving the Durango north on I-95 at about 6:30 p.m. Monday just south of Garden Street in Titusville. Brown is the mother of the four sisters and was taken to Wuestoff hospital with minor injuries.

The preliminary investigation found that a front left tire may have malfunctioned or blown out, causing the vehicle to swerve and flip several times before landing on its wheels and pressed up against a barrier wall.

Troopers said the other people in the SUV were taken to various hospitals, all with minor injuries. Kevin Rawlings, 23, of Wildwood, was taken to Parrish Medical Center in Titusville and Dedira Solomon, 16, of Leesburg was taken to Central Florida Regional. Four children — Shakara Cruz, 9; Daron Hamilton, 6, Khria Edwards, 7 and Keshaen Walker, 3, all of Leesburg — were taken to Arnold Palmer.

A 2006 Durango can fit up to eight people. Troopers said not everyone in the Durango was buckled in.

The crash remains under investigation.