On Saturday morning, nine children and one adult were killed in an accident 35 miles south of Montgomery, on Interstate 65 in Butler County, Alabama, according to Butler County Coroner Wayne Garlock.
The accident involved 15-cars and claimed the lives of eight of the nine children killed. The vehicle was coming from the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch and the children ranged from ages 4 to 17.
The other vehicle involved in the accident was carrying a 29-year-old father and his 9-month-old daughter, according to CNN.
The youth ranch provides homes for school-age children who are neglected or abused and is managed by the nonprofit Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches.
The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon, according to Garlock, as Tropical Depression Claudette made its way across the state, dumping heavy rain and causing flooding in many areas.
Garlock and authorities believe that the vehicles most likely hydroplaned on the wet roads before crashing into one another.
The driver of the girl’s ranch bus was pulled from the burning vehicle, but rescue personnel were unable to reach the girls in time, according to Garlock.
The father in the other vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, and his daughter was taken to Regional Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. Garlock stated that the girl was appropriately secured in her car seat, but the impact was too powerful.
"This morning, I have been thinking about how we do not always understand the reason things happen," Michale Smith, the CEO of Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches, said.
"However, we will continue to hold on to our God for peace and comfort as our hearts continue to break. Please continue to pray for us as we navigate this difficult time."
Smith called the accident “a horrible tragedy and loss” in a statement on the accident.
Currently, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is asking for anyone who has videos or photos of the accident to submit them so that a clearer picture of the accident can be depicted.