Crash kills grandmother, injures 2 kids

NEWSTEAD, N.Y. (WIVB) - A northtowns family will spend the holiday weekend mourning a terrible tragedy, and hoping for the recovery of two young children.

One of the children injured in the accident has been released from the hospital. The other two are in critical condition. Friday afternoon, News 4 spoke with the mother of one the children who is also mourning the death of her grandmother in the accident.

Madison Phillips is 7-years-old. She is one of three children injured in this fatal accident Thursday in the town of Newstead. News 4 spoke with Madison's mother, Candice Wells.

Wells said, "She has bleeding in the brain and they're trying to stabilize the pressure. They had to drain the brain a few times during the evening."

Another young relative, 6-year-old Victoria Gibbs, is also in critical condition at Women and Children's Hospital as a result of the accident. Investigators say the accident was caused when Donna Gibbs turned in front of a tractor trailer carrying cars.

"Grandma was on her way to take them to vacation bible school," explained Wells.

Wells tells News 4 the bible school is located in Clarence and the three children in the car, all related, were excited for a sleepover. Donna Gibbs is Wells' grandmother, a woman who was more like a mother in her eyes.

"From the time I was 4-years-old until I was 16, I got to spend every weekend with my grandma. Saturday, we would go shopping, and Sunday, we would go to church," recalls Wells.

Erie County Sheriff's investigators say the tractor trailer was going around 55 mph on Route 5 with no stop sign. Investigators say Gibbs attempted to turn her Lincoln Mercury west onto Route 5, apparently not seeing the rig, which judging by the skid marks, tried to stop. Investigators aren't sure why Gibbs attempted to turn. Now Wells and her family mourn a loss and pray for the recovery of two children.

Wells stated, "That's what's helping us to get through this is the Lord and our family and friends."

They will need lots of prayers. Gibbs was the grandmother to two of the children, and great grandmother to the other. Wells says doctors have told her the next 72 hours are key for her daughter's recovery.