According to police, one car was moving slowly along the Northern State with a flat tire. The car behind it -- had its flashers on -- and both were in the right lane.
The woman in the second car was helping her friend get off the highway and that's when a third car came up behind them, police say.
It veered to the left to avoid them but a fourth car didn't react in time. State police say it plowed right into the car carrying a mother and her daughter.
"The vehicle just pushed into the center median it immediately erupted into flames," a male witness/Good Samaritan said.
State police say the male who witnessed the crash -- and the flames -- rushed over to help but he could only reach the mother.
"Witnesses that were in the area stopped, were able to pull the operator vehicle no. 2 from the vehicle. Unfortunately, this time we have a deceased child," said Lt. William Hulse/NY State police.
The mother, both drivers of the other cars and the Good Samaritan were all taken to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries.
The northern state parkway was closed for most of the night for the investigation.
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STORY BY: Eyewitness News reporter Lisa Colagrossi
WEB PRODUCED BY: Lakisha Bostick
