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3 Killed, 3 Injured In Violent Crash In Brooklyn

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A devastating crash in Brooklyn early Saturday took the lives of three people, and left three others injured -- one critically.

As CBS 2's Amy Dardashtian reported, the incredibly violent collision happened around 2 a.m. at the corner of Avenue U and East 5th Street in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn.

A black 2003 Acura headed east on Avenue U struck a red 2009 Toyota Camry heading down East 5th Street through the intersection, police told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria. Police said the Acura ran a red light.

3 Killed, 3 Severely Injured In Violent Crash In Brooklyn

The Camry was headed north on East 5th Street when it was hit on the driver's side door by the Acura, police said. The impact in turn caused the Acura to slam into a parked 2011 Honda Odyssey and a 2007 Lincoln Town Car, which in turn slammed into a parked 2011 Mazda CX9.

The Toyota slid east on Avenue U and hit a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, which was stopped at the time, and a 2011 Mercedes Benz that was sent careening into a 2012 Honda Pilot. In all, nine vehicles, including the bus, were involved.

The bus driver reported seeing the Acura going at least double the speed limit – or 60 mph – before slamming on the brakes.

The driver of the Acura was killed instantly. Three others were inside, one of whom was ejected and slid underneath the parked car behind the Acura.

That person was taken to Lutheran Medical Center in critical condition. People who saw him come into the hospital described him as unresponsive.

The other two were trapped inside and were pried out. They were also taken to Lutheran Medical Center, where their conditions were reported as stable.

One of the two passengers from the Acura was set to be discharged at 9 a.m. Saturday, after only ultimately suffering minor cuts and bruises, people at the hospital said. But the passenger, a woman, was emotionally distraught.

"Hysterical crying; she's in pain. She just found out from the news that she lost her boyfriend," said friend Steven Baez. "Anybody would be going through any kind of emotional tragedy, you know? But she's hysterical right now. She's hurt."

A man and woman in the red Toyota were also killed instantly.

The deceased driver of the Toyota was identified as Andre Capers-Jones, 26. The front passenger who was killed was identified as Leonora Lavaud, 24.

Hilda lives in the area and said it is fairly quiet at night, perhaps giving drivers a false sense of safety.

"People don't think. You think 2 o'clock in the morning, you're the only one on the road," she said.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, Avenue U was covered in broken glass, as police investigated at the scene and worked to notify families.

A firefighter who responded to the scene also suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

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