LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — An 11-year-old girl was killed Saturday in Lawrence after two cars collided at the intersection of Andover Street and Winthrop Avenue.
According to authorities, first responders were called to the scene around 6 p.m., where bystanders were trying to help a family trapped in a vehicles. Smoke had been seen pouring from the car.
The child was identified as Taysha Rohena Silva.
Police originally reported she was 8 years old. Authorities confirmed she was 11 years old on Monday.
"I heard a big bang. Something must have went wrong," one eyewitness said. "So, I came out. I see the two cars parked. I went into the black car to see how the people was inside, and a little girl was crunched up on the floor. I dragged the mother — I think it was the mother — out of the car, in the front seat because she was crunched up too. I didn't know what to do, she was bleeding so bad."
The girl was pronounced dead at a hospital. Four other people were in the car, including Silva's 8-year-old sister, her mother, her mother's boyfriend, and her 15-year-old cousin. They were all taken to hospitals in Boston with serious injuries.
Authorities arrested Selvin Manuel Lima, of Lawrence, on Sunday.
Accoridng to the Essex County District Attorney, Lima allegedly sped away during a traffic stop, after which he lost control of his car — a white Infiniti G37 — and struck a black Honda Civic head on. He suffered serious injuries and was med-flighted to a hospital in Boston.
Lima was arraigned from his hospital bed on Monday. He was ordered to be held without bail, and was charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
Records obtained by WBZ NewsRadio show that Lima has been sited for failure to yield as recently as April, and has had his license suspended twice in connection with car theft.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App