This is so sad…
A 10 year-old boy saved his own life after his mother drove herself, along with his three siblings, into the Hudson River.
Read below for the details:
A 10-year-old boy escaped from his mother’s minivan after she drove into the Hudson River with three of his siblings, drowning them Tuesday night, police said Wednesday morning. City of Newburgh police divers found the bodies of the mother, identified as Lashandra Armstrong, 25; two boys, ages 5 and 2; and an 11-month-old girl inside the van Tuesday night.
At a news conference Wednesday morning, police said Armstrong’s 10-year-old son, Lashaun Armstrong, opened a window of the minivan and escaped after his mother drove off a boat ramp. He worked his way to shore and then was picked up by a passer-by, who took him to the fire station nearby.
Related Photo GalleriesDivers found the minivan under the water, several yards away from the shore. The boat ramp is just south of Gully’s Restaurant at the foot of Washington Street. Armstrong and the children were already dead when divers found them. At Wednesday’s news conference, the three children who drowned were identified asLandon Pierre, 5;
Lance Pierre, 2; and Lainaina Pierre, 11 months. The father of the three children was identified as Jean Pierre, 26.“It’s a horrible sight, all of them in the car,” City of Newburgh police Chief Michael Ferrara said Tuesday night. Ferrara said it appears that the drowings were related to a call about a domestic dispute at 7:43 p.m. Tuesday at 53 William St., Apt. 2.
The alert was called in by an aunt of Armstrong,who told police she heard “tussling” in the background. The aunt told police Armstrong had a history of domestic problems with Jean Pierre, the father of three of her children.
Police have not said who else was involved in the domestic dispute and the motive for Armstrong’s actions is unclear. Officials have spoken with Pierre, but no charges have been leveled as yet. Police were unable to reach anyone at the apartment.
About 8 p.m., Lashaun Armstrong showed up at the fire station and reported that his mother had driven
their vehicle into the river. Lashaun is staying with a female relative, police said.A downstairs neighbor on Williams Street, Jim Simeon, said a woman and her small children lived upstairs but he’d never spoken to them.
He’d often heard the sounds of children playing come through the ceiling. “The kids play, but not fighting,” Simeon said. “It’s terrible.” He said he heard nothing on Tuesday night.
This is so tragic! Please pray for their family and close ones……
