Mother, 3 children dead after she drives van into river

Mom, kids dead after car goes into riverSTORY HIGHLIGHTSA mother and 3 children are found dead after their van runs into the Hudson RiverAuthorities don't know if the woman deliberately drove the van into the waterRELATED TOPICSHudson RiverDeath and Dying (CNN) -- A mother and three of her children were found dead after the woman drove her van into the Hudson River Tuesday night, a fire department official said.

The woman drove her van into the river in Newburgh, New York, according to Michael Vatter, the city's fire chief.

A 10-year-old boy alerted authorities to the incident upon arriving at the city's fire station shortly before 8:00 p.m., Vatter said. Responders found the van approximately 25 yards offshore in 8 to 10 feet of water, according to the chief.

Vatter said it's "hard to tell" at this point whether the woman drove the van into the water deliberately.

"There was apparently a domestic disturbance just prior to this incident involving that family," Vatter said.

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