A driver travelling down the wrong side of the road has killed five teenagers after smashing into the front of their car.
Steve Bourgoin, 36, was allegedly driving on the wrong side of Interstate 89 near Williston, Vermont, when he struck a Volkswagen Jetta on Saturday night.
Vermont teenagers Eli Brookens, Mary Harris and Cyrus Zschau, all 16, were killed by the impact, along with 15-year-olds Lim Hale and Janie Cozzi.
The crash caused the Volkswagen to erupt into flames, flinging bits of debris all over the road.
As an officer tried to save the life of one of the victims, Bourgoin stole his patrol car and attempted to flee the scene.
After attempting to escape, he is said to have crashed into eight vehicles and was ejected from the car.
Five people were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries as a result of the other crash.
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin told CNN: "The loss of five young Vermonters in such a senseless tragedy is heartbreaking.
"Vermont is a community, and today we share the sadness and the loss of the families and friends of these teens."
Bourgoin is currently in a critical condition in the University of Vermont Medical Centre.
