6 children ejected from SUV, severely injured in San Antonio crash

Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Nine people were hospitalized, including six children with "very life-threatening injuries" after being ejected from an SUV on Interstate 35 in northeastern San Antonio on Sunday night, police said.

The vehicle's tire blew out and it crashed into a tree, according to Officer Nick Soliz, a spokesperson for the San Antonio Police Department . Two adults in the car were also taken to a local hospital, as well as a seventh child who police said was secure. The six children, who range from 2 to 11 years old, weren't wearing seat belts.

Two adults also were taken to a local hospital, and a seventh child was secured and not ejected.

The driver is facing several charges of endangering a child. That is a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years in prison. In Texas, children younger than 8 are required secured in a car seat unless they are taller than 4-feet-9.

The mid-2000s SUV was traveling on I-35 and Frost Bank Center Drive around 7:15 p.m.

A portion of northbound I-35 was closed for several hours.