Pictures Show Five Children Killed in Church Van Crash While Traveling to Disney World

Truck driver in fatal crash had several tickets, including speeding

Five children who died in a fiery Florida crash were traveling in a church van heading to Disney World, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Local news outlets published photos of the children.

The Florida Highway Patrol named the five children as 14-year-old Joel Cloud, 14-year-old Jeremiah Warren, 9-year-old Cierra Bordelan, 13-year-old Cara Descant, and 10-year-old Brieanna Descant.

According to News4Jax, they were traveling from Marksville, Louisiana, which is about 700 miles from Disney World. They were an hour away from the theme park when the crash occurred along Interstate 75 in Gainesville.

The accident also left two truckers dead.

Steve Holland of West Palm Beach, one of the truckers, was cited between 2000 and 2014 in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida for traffic violations, driving an unsafe vehicle, driving without proof of insurance, and driving an overloaded vehicle, reported WPBF.

The station reported that he was driving north on Interstate 75 on Jan. 3 when he veered into another vehicle, lost control, and passed over the center divider, hitting the church van with children inside as well as another truck.

Flames engulf vehicles after a fiery crash along Interstate 75, on Jan. 3, 2019. WGFL-Gainesville via AP

The other truck driver that was killed, was identified as 49-year-old Douglas Bolkema of Albuquerque, New Mexico, WPBF reported.

At least eight other people were injured, some seriously, in the crash, reported Florida Today. Several other children were injured seriously or critically.

Photos and video footage showed a large fire engulfing several vehicles.

“It is a heartbreaking event,” Lt. Patrick Riordan said Jan. 4.

“I didn’t believe that it had happened,” a friend of deceased 14-year-old victim Jeremiah Warren told First Coast News. “I cried a little bit.”

The pastor’s wife is in critical condition and has broken ribs as well as a broken collarbone, the report said. Another injured woman from the church van was pregnant, according to the report. The unborn child is expected to be fine, the church said.

The church asked for prayers following the accident, the report said.

Disney World spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

“There are no words to convey the sorrow we feel for those involved,” she said, News4Jax reported. “We extend heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragic accident.”

The crash is still under investigation, said officials.

Victims Identified

The highway patrol identified the occupants of the five vehicles involved in the crash and listed their status:

Steve Holland, 59, West Palm Beach, deceased

Robyn Rattray, 41, Gainesville, seriously injured

Amy Joffiron, 45, of Mansura, Louisana, seriously injured

Ali Laborde, 30, of Marksville, Louisana, seriously injured

Karen Descant, 50, of Marksville, Louisana, critically injured

Noah Joffiron, 14, Mansura, Louisana, seriously injured

Chelsea Laborde, 11, of Marksville, Louisana, seriously injured

Trinity Woodward, 9, of Hessmer, Louisana, seriously injured

Chance Bernard, 9, of Hessmer, Louisana, seriously injured

Joel Cloud, 14, of Marksville, Louisana, deceased

Jeremiah Warren, 14, of Marksville, Louisana, deceased

Cierra Bordelan, 9, of Marksville, Louisana, deceased

Cara Descant, 13, of Marksville, Louisana, deceased

Brieana Descant, 10, of Marksville, La., deceased

Douglas Bolkema, 49, of Albuquerque, deceased

Mark Houghtaling, 61, of Gainesville, uninjured