Christmas Day crash survivors remain in hospital

Four children, all from the same family, continue to fight for their lives after a Christmas Day crash that killed four other family members.

Renee Jones-Blevins, 49, was driving a white Dodge Avenger when the car crashed killing her, Quaishia Jones, 28, and Tae’Kwaun Jones, 10, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s office. A little girl, Mae’lah Jones, 5, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Dayton Children’s Hospital on Friday confirmed that Tre’Jsaun Jones, Dalylah Jones, Armani Jones and Daliyah Jones were still in the hospital. Tre’Jsaun and Armani remain in critical condition, Daliyah is in serious condition and Dalyah is in fair condition.

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Dayton Children’s could not give the ages of the children.

A family friend, Daryl Dalton, has organized a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses for the family. The goal is to raise $20,000, according to the website. The GoFundMe says Armani is 2-years-old and Daliyah is 1-year-old.

“Tre’Jsaun is fighting for his life he is so strong,” the GoFundMe says. “Dalylah has a concussion and right collar bone broken. Armani age 2 is fighting, and Daliyah age 1 has collapsed lungs. Anything you donate will go towards the funeral expenses and anything left over to the care of the young children that are still fighting for their lives.”

The Montgomery County Coroner’s office said that the bodies of the relatives who died in the crash have not been released to funeral homes.

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Dayton Police Lt. James Mullins said it is still too early to determine what caused the crash.

The crash happened around 11 a.m. on West Third Street near Abbey Avenue. Jones-Blevins was driving west at nearly 70 mph on West Third when the car crossed the center line and hit a tree and an RTA pole, police said.

In surveillance footage obtained from the Cricket Wireless store on the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and West Third, the car can be seen driving faster than the other cars on the road before it.

Just before the white Dodge goes out of frame it can be seen crossing the center line. Dayton police investigators estimate that the car was going at least double the speed limit, which is 35 mph on that part of West Third Street.

“Traveling at that kind of speed on that roadway is not safe,” Mullins said.

Friends and family were scheduled to hold a candle light vigil and balloon release on Friday night at the site of the fatal Christmas Day crash.

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