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Three Kids Killed, Dad Critically Injured In Turnpike Crash

STUART (CBS4) - Three children were killed, five people injured, in an accident involving three SUVs on the Florida Turnpike in Stuart over the weekend.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 40-year old Steveroy Hansen was behind the wheel of his 1998 Ford Explorer on Sunday when one of the vehicles rear tires shredded about six miles south of the Stuart exit. Hansen lost control, the vehicle swerved toward the center lanes, hit the barrier and began to roll over.  As the vehicle overturned three children in the Explorer; Stephaune Hansen, 1, Steve Hansen Jr., 11, and a 12-year old girl whose name has not been released were thrown from it and died on the scene.

Two other children in Hansen's SUV, 8-year old Abigal Hansen and 14-year old Olivia Scott, were taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Hansen, who was critically injured, was taken to Lawnwood Medical Center in Fort Pierce.

Hansen's Explorer had Coral Springs on his license plate and he may have been heading there when the accident occurred.

The FHP said as the Explorer rolled it slammed into a 2002 Toyota Highlander driven by 39-year old Satnarine Burton. Debris from when the it crashed into the center barrier slammed into a 2001 Ford Escape, driven by 50-year old Barbara Ellen, in the northbound lanes.

Burton and Ellen, both of whom were wearing their seat belts, were treated for 'non-life threatening' injuries.

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