Charges weighed in fatal Turnpike crash

A tire blowout caused a minivan loaded with 10 people to crash Monday afternoon on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County, ejecting and killing an unsecured 5-year-old boy, state police said this morning. Police said Cynthia Eure, 20, of Philadelphia, was traveling west in the turnpike's left lane in a white, 2000 Chrylser minivan about 3:50 p.m. when a rear tire blew out and she lost control of the vehicle. The van traveled across the right lane into the shoulder, where it flipped, police said. The 5-year-old, who was not secured in a child seat, was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Police did not release the name of the child or those of five other children in the car, saying they would not immediatley issue more details beyond what was contained in a news release. Chester County Assistant District Attorney Ann Marie Wheatcraft said the case is being reviewed to determine whether any criminal charges are appropriate. Eure sustained moderate injuries in the crash, as did Tyree Spencer, 22, and Terance Myers, 25, both of Philadelphia, and an unidentified 25-year-old woman, police said. Spencer was the only adult wearing a seatbelt, police said. The five other child passengers were three boys, ages 9, 8, and 3, all of whom sustained moderate injuries; an 8-month-old boy, who sustained minor injuries; and a 2-year-old girl who was not hurt, police said. Police said the 2-year-old girl was sitting in the lap of the 25-year-old woman. Only the 8-month-old was buckled into a car seat; the other children were not using car seats or seatbelts, police said. Numerous motorists stopped to lend assistance before emergency personnel arrived, police said. The victims were taken to Reading Hospital and Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, police said. Police from the Bowmansville station said the investigation, which closed a portion of the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County for several hours during the afternoon rush, is continuing.