Three children from a single Falls Church Va. family were the victims who died after a horrible rear-end collision late Sunday on Indian Head Highway, according to Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski.
The driver of the pickup truck that hit the car carrying the children and their parents is suspected of driving under the influence, a statement from Prince George's County Police reported.
The children's parents survived with serious injuries.
The pick up truck driver was arrested at the scene.
The victims have been identified by police as 5-year-old Alexander Mejia, 5-year- old Rosalie Mejia, and 1-year- old Isaac Mejia, all of Falls Church, Virginia.
The children and their parents were riding in a small sedan that was hit from behind by a pickup truck as traffic stopped or slowed for a traffic light near the intersection of Indian Head Highway and Wilson Bridge Drive in Oxon Hill at about 9:40 pm Sunday.
Two other vehicles were struck.
"Preliminarily, there is no evidence of skid marks on the scene prior to the point of impact with the car carrying the family," according to a statement from the Prince George's County Police. "The pick-up truck came to rest on top of the rear-passenger compartment of that sedan."
“I am heartbroken over the loss of these three young innocent lives," said Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski. "The actions of a suspected drunk driver has ended in a lifetime of pain for this family."
Stawinski noted Rt. 210 was among areas recieving stepped up DUI and traffic enforcement for the New Year's Holiday period.
The suspected DUI driver was released after sobriety testing and has not been formally charged because the results of a full investigation are not complete.
Known as Indian Head Highway, the Prince George's County section of Maryland Rt. 210 is known as the "highway of death".
From 2010 to 2017 there were at least 58 fatalities despite stepped-up speed enforcement efforts.
In 2018, Maryland's legislature authorized the installation of a speed camera at the intersection with Old Fort Road.
The 6-lane highway is distinguished by heavy traffic and long, straight stretches between traffic lights.
In 2007, 8 people died during an illegal drag race that was being staged on a section of the road in neighboring Charles County.
Indian Head Highway carries about 75,000 vehicles daily. The speed limit is 55 mph.