Mom, three kids found dead in minivan in Hudson River

A Newburgh, NY woman and three of her children were found dead in a submerged minivan after police say the woman intentionally drove the vehicle into the river last night.

One child, identified as 10-year-old Lashaun Armstrong, is said to have survived the incident. The bodies of 25-year-old Lashandra Armstrong, 5-year-old Landon Pierce, 2-year-old Lance Pierre and 11-month-old Lainaina Pierre were recovered at the scene.

Newburgh Chief of Police Michael Ferrara said the incident began to unfold around 7:30 pm Tuesday night, when a relative notified police of a domestic dispute. Police were dispatched to investigate a report of “tussling in the home,” but arrived to find an empty house. Shortly thereafter, a woman and 10-year-old Lashaun went to a local firehouse to report witnessing a woman drive a minivan into the Hudson River after the boy freed himself from the vehicle and swam ashore. Police say the child was “soaking wet.”

The bodies and the vehicle were located under eight feet of water about 25 feet from the shore an hour later.