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Five people, including two children, were killed today when their vehicle struck a cement pillar and caught on fire in New York City. The 2008 Mercedes SUV flipped over before setting ablaze with eight passengers inside. Two children and three women were killed instantly, and the driver, one child and another passenger were hospitalized.

The driver, a 45-year-old woman, is apparently undergoing surgery at Jamaica Hospital and a 7-year-old boy was announced in stable condition in the pediatric emergency room. Another man was also announced in stable condition and is likely to be released soon. No identifications of any of the vehicle occupants have been released.

According to police, the SUV was traveling at 3:15 a.m. on Sunday morning when it hit the pillar, flipped over and set on fire on Van Wyck Expressway. Preliminary witness reports also state that the car apparently went through two red lights before hitting the pillar and other safety officials said that the car was definitely speeding. No other cars were involved, and the cause of the accident was not immediately clear.

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