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Four Dead In Single-Car Crash On Sprain Brook Parkway In Greenburgh

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A single-car crash left four people dead early Sunday in the Westchester County municipality of Greenburgh.

As CBS 2's Steve Langford reported, police said the car slammed head-on into an overpass and burst into flames around 5:30 a.m. on the Sprain Brook Parkway at Jackson Avenue.

The rented 2013 gray Volkswagen Golf was headed north on the parkway at high rate of speed, when its driver suddenly lost control, police said. The vehicle jumped the middle barrier and slammed head-on into the concrete bridge abutment at the Underhill Road overpass, and then burst into flames.

"I heard this loud crash and I thought it was a tree crashing on to my house," a neighbor said.

The car was being driven by Bruno Vaccarezza, 19, of Cos Cob, Conn., police said. Vaccarezza had three passengers, all between the ages of 18 and 20, police said.

Four Dead In Single-Car Crash On Sprain Brook Parkway In Greenburgh

"The fire department arrived first and began an attack of the car fire, during which they identified that there were a number of people who were trapped in the vehicle," New York State Police Maj. Michael Kopy told reporters including WCBS 880's Monica Miller. "They were able to extinguish the fire, at which time a number of subjects were discovered deceased."

Northbound Sprain Brook Parkway traffic
Northbound Sprain Brook Parkway traffic due to a fatal one-car crash, Sept. 1, 2013. (credit: Monica Miller/WCBS 880)

Police said they do not know whether drugs or alcohol might have been involved. But they said as of Sunday evening, they had found nothing inside the charred vehicle.

"At this point, clearly, speed is going to be a factor. There was significant damage," Kopy said. "The vehicle went off the road and struck the abutment head on."

Police also reported finding no sign of any skid marks on the pavement of the Sprain Brook Parkway.

The four victims lived in Connecticut and Port Chester, N.Y. Vaccarezzo, rented the car in Stamford, Miller reported.

At the young driver's home in Connecticut, no one was home. But neighbors were in a state of shock over the news.

"And he died?" another said. "Too bad, too bad."

Police said the driver may have been behind the wheel of a rental car because of a previous car accident.

Police said they have no witnesses.

"I'm appealing to the public to anyone who may have been in the area or with individuals the night before," Kopy said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 914-769-2600.

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