Updated

Four children were among seven people killed when a semitrailer slammed into an SUV stopped for a highway construction zone in northwestern Indiana, police said Friday.

Indiana State Police said the crash occurred just before 10 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 65 near Roselawn, about 30 miles south of Gary.

Sgt. Tony Slocum said an SUV driven by Yvette Williams, 35, of Atlanta, Ga., was rear-ended by a northbound semitrailer while Williams was stopped in a work zone. The impact pushed the SUV into a semi in front of it and ignited a fire that engulfed the SUV and damaged both semitrailers.

The SUV was so badly damaged that emergency crews weren't able to confirm the number of victims until mid-day Friday, Slocum said.

Police identified the dead as Williams, Jamin Osborne, 5, and Jasmin Osborne, 7, all of Atlanta; and Amado Mangual, 49, Lindsey Williams, 27, Yazmin Goldman, 5, and Arielle Goldman, 3, all of Merrillville.

Slocum said neither alcohol nor narcotics was believed to be a factor in the crash.

Police said the crash is still being investigated and that final results will be sent to the Jasper County prosecutor's office for review.

The semitrailer was driven by Howard Stratton, 55, of Grand Rapids, Mich. He was taken to a hospital complaining of pain.

The other semi driver wasn't injured.