Mother and Infant ID'd After Drowning in Crash from Mom's Possible Medical Emergency
A mother and her 1-year-old daughter died after their vehicle went into Texas's San Jacinto River last week
'Ms. Njepu suffered from a possible medical emergency, causing her to leave the roadway onto a gravel road on the south side of the roadway,' the Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a statement
Two rescued passengers who survived the incident were identified as possibly 5 and 7 years old, CBS affiliate KHOU reported. They were taken to a local hospital
Authorities have identified a mother and her 1-year-old daughter who died after their vehicle went into Texas's San Jacinto River last week.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the incident occurred on Thursday, April 25, around 4:40 p.m., local time, when the woman, Crystal Njepu, was operating a 2020 Kia Telluride west in the 17300 block of Market Street in Channelview.
Related: Couple 'Getting Busy' in Car Accidentally Drive Vehicle into Philadelphia River: Reports
'Ms. Njepu suffered from a possible medical emergency, causing her to leave the roadway onto a gravel road on the south side of the roadway,' the sheriff's office said in a statement. 'The vehicle came to an abrupt stop for approximately 1 minute.'
'Moments later, the vehicle accelerated forward into the grassy area and into the water,' the statement continued. 'The vehicle began to sink in a rapid rate and also was taken by the current under the bridge.'
Authorities added that a witness entered the water and broke the back window of the submerged vehicle, recovering two passengers.
However, per the sheriff's office, 'the driver was found unresponsive and found to have no signs of life by EMS at the scene. In extracting the vehicle from the water, a juvenile female was located in the back right passenger seat with no apparent signs of life.'
The two rescued passengers who survived were identified as possibly 5 and 7 years old, CBS affiliate KHOU reported. They were subsequently taken to the hospital.
Related: Body of Infant Found 18 Hours After Car Drove Car into Texas River, Police Say
"The witness dove in the water and rescued those children," Major Cedric Collier of the Harris County Sheriff's Office said at a news conference. "We're very grateful for his bravery to save those children."
The ages of the deceased mother and child were about 39 and 1 years old, respectively, said Collier.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said that the case remains active and is under investigation by the department's Vehicular Crimes Division.
A GoFundMe was created on behalf of Njepu's family to help pay for funeral costs of Crystal and her 1-year-old, identified as Annah, and to support the victim's surviving children.
Related: Teens Trying to Fish Rescue Man Who Drove into River After Medical Emergency: 'Just Wanted to Help'
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'Crystal leaves behind a five-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter that were miraculously rescued,' read the GoFundMe description. 'I am humbly reaching out to ask for your support to cover their funeral cost and support the children who are now left without their mom and baby sister. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.'
PEOPLE contacted the GoFundMe organizer for additional information on Monday, April 28, but they did not immediately respond.
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