Seven killed as car plunges over flyover into zoo

Three generations of a family died in a horrifying crash just a few kilometres from home when the SUV they were travelling in plunged more than 15m off a highway flyover and into a ravine on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo, killing all seven aboard, including three children.

“Sometimes you come upon events that are horrific and this is one of them,” deputy chief Ronald Werner said.

Authorities were trying to determine what caused the accident that killed Jacob Nunez, 85, and Ana Julia Martinez, 81, both from the Dominican Republic, their daughters, Maria Gonzalez, 45, and Maria Nunez, 39, and three grandchildren. Police say Gonzalez was driving, and all the victims were wearing seat belts.