3 members of Little Village family die in Ky. crash

• Reprints

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three members of a Little Village family returning to Chicago from a wedding in Florida were killed early Wednesday when a tractor-trailer struck their SUV from behind and sent the vehicle out of control on Interstate 65 just south of Elizabethtown, Ky., State Police said.

The wreck happened around 3:25 a.m. just south of mile marker 87 near Glendale. Investigators were looking into what caused the FedEx truck, pulling two trailers, to bump the Nissan Pathfinder, Trooper Bruce Reeves said.

“We don’t know why, but he ran into the back of them,” Reeves said.

Killed were 26-year-old Victor Chacon, 10-year-old Brianna Chacon and 11-year-old Tatyana Alvarez.

They were ejected from the vehicle.

Reeves said the Pathfinder’s driver, 30-year-old Melissa Gonzalez, and passengers Victor Chacon, 49, 2-year-old Yaznylie Chacon and 5-year-old Victor Chacon were family members.

Gonzalez and the surviving passengers remained hospitalized Wednesday.

The Pathfinder’s driver was in satisfactory condition and the eldest, Victor Chacon, was in serious condition.

The children’s conditions were not released.

The truck’s driver, 31-year-old George T. Grimes of Louisville, was wearing a seat-belt and was not hurt. He was taken to a local hospital for a toxicology test, which is routine, Reeves said.

Maury Lane, director of corporate communications for FedEx in Memphis, Tenn., said the company is cooperating with investigators,but had no details to release Wednesday.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends affected by this morning’s tragic accident,” Lane said.

AP