Six girls have tragically been killed in a car crash on a Tennessee highway in the early hours of Sunday (March 26).
As reported by NBC News, a vehicle was found upside down with extensive damage by first responders in Robertson County, about 30 miles north of Nashville, just before 2:00AM on Sunday (March 26).
It has been reported that the six girls - who were between the ages of one and 18 - were believed to have passed away after they were thrown out of the vehicle, the Robertson County Emergency Medical Services department revealed.
In addition to this, two adults were injured in the incident, including a woman who was hurt after also being ejected from the vehicle. She was transported by air ambulance to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center while a man who was in the car sustained minor injuries and was taken to the TriStar Skyline Trauma Center in Nashville.
According to ABC News, officials have disclosed that a second vehicle - whose driver was not injured in the crash - was discovered near the damaged car.
The deadly crash took place on I-24 near Pleasant View and Springfield, and a section of the highway was closed for hours before reopening later Sunday. A total of four Advanced Life Support ambulances responded to the scene, along with one air ambulance.
Robertson County Emergency Medical Services Director Brent-Dyer spoke to local outlet WSMV about the traumatic scene, commenting: "It's one of the hardest things we'll ever do, as anybody in emergency services, is to realize that you can't do something for a child. Something like this would shock anybody. We are still human."
While the details surrounding the crash are unclear, such as whether the victims were wearing seat belts or properly restrained, Dyer pleaded with drivers to make sure that children are safely secured in cars.
"I beg people to put your children in the proper restraint devices and I beg everyone driving on the road to think about the outcome of impatience and the outcome of intolerance," Dyer said.
Robertson County EMS has also issued a statement on the heartbreaking accident and revealed that mental health and counseling services for responders have been organized.
"Our office recognizes the incredible difficulty of this scene," the statement read, per People. "Please keep the families and persons involved in your thoughts and prayers."
The victims' identities have not been revealed. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
