LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Late Thursday afternoon, WDRB News learned that the owner of the Heavenly Angels Childcare Center -- the daycare facility that was transporting children who were involved in a fatal crash Tuesday evening -- has volunteered to shut down all three of her facilities.
"The owner of Heavenly Angels has notified the Cabinet's Office of the Inspector General of her intent to voluntarily close her three facilities," a spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said in a written statement. "The Cabinet has confirmed that Heavenly Angels is not currently caring for children."
That announcement comes less than 48 hours after the fatal crash that killed one person and sent more than a dozen children to the hospital.
It happened Tuesday on Algonquin Parkway, near Wingfield Avenue.
Relatives described a chaotic scene where young children were screaming, many were carted off on stretchers, and there was little communication about what led the van to crash into a tree.
Of the 14 children initially admitted to Kosair Children's Hospital, only five remained admitted. One is still in critical condition.
A van monitor, 31-year old Tiffany Belk, was killed in the crash.
An LMPD spokesman said the crash is still under investigation, adding that everyone but the driver was wearing a seatbelt.
But some family members of the crash victims are raising serious questions about whether the children were properly restrained. Authorities confirmed 16 people were in the van.
"My family and my sister, we are going through a lot. All three of her babies are here - the youngest 8 months - and we do not know when they will be coming home. I just ask for the community to pray for us any my family," said Roniece Baker, the aunt of three of the children.
Roniece Baker says her 8-month old niece, 2-year old nephew and 4-year old niece were sitting directly behind the driver when their faces smashed into a hard surface.
The youngest has swelling on her brain. The oldest – with fractures to her face. Both are still in intensive care.
"The youngest she is in very bad shape -- she just had facial reconstruction of her eye bone, I know right now both of them having breathing tubes - respiration tubes down their throats to keep them breathing. The oldest also has to have her nose pushed back out," said Baker.
The driver remains hospitalized with two broken arms and two broken legs.
Kosair Children's Hospital's Medical Director said the children's injuries are a bit unusual.
"Most of the time they go home. So to have this many children injured and have to be admitted is a little bit unusual."
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