Two adults and a 3-year-old boy died in this crash Wednesday on Route 173 in Brady Township. Two other young girls, 11 and 1, were badly hurt, the infant sustaining life-threatening injuries. State police said the driver, Kimberly A. McLaughlin, 31, of McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, was driving south when she lost control of her minivan about 6 p.m. and smashed into a tree.

BRADY TWP — Three members of a family driving home from church camp were killed Wednesday evening when their minivan slammed into a tree along Route 173, authorities said.

A 3-year-old boy was among the dead. Two other children were badly hurt, including an infant who suffered life-threatening injuries.

Kimberly A. McLaughlin, 31, and Terry W. Cramer Jr., 42, both of McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, died at the scene. The couple's son, Terry Cramer III, was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital, where he died a short time later.

McLaughlin's other children, 1-year-old Emily McLaughlin and 11-year-old Stephanie Pounds, were flown by medical helicopter to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Emily suffered critical injuries. Stephanie was seriously injured but is expected to recover, authorities said.

“It's just such a shock,” said Cramer's father, Michael Cramer of Coraopolis, Allegheny County.

Cramer turned 42 on Wednesday and spent the day with his family celebrating his birthday, Michael Cramer said.

The family earlier had driven to Titusville, Crawford County, where they dropped off McLaughlin's 8-year-old daughter at church camp.

“They were headed home,” Cramer's father said.

State police said McLaughlin was driving south when she lost control of her 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager about 6 p.m. on Route 173 just east of Walker Lane near the Slippery Rock Township line.

Investigators did not rule out that she possibly fell asleep at the wheel.

The van crossed the center line and traveled off the east berm before hitting a tree stump, causing it to catapult end over end into a maple tree.

The van's roof impacted the tree. The vehicle landed on its wheels

Butler County Deputy Coroner Dennis Trzeciak pronounced McLaughlin and Cramer dead at 6:45 p.m.

“They probably died on impact,” Trzeciak said.

Police said McLaughlin was wearing a seat belt; Cramer was not. Both front seat air bags deployed.

Terry Cramer III, who was riding in a child safety seat in the back seat behind his mother, was pronounced dead at 7:03 p.m. at BMH.

Emily also was in a child safety seat. Stephanie was not wearing a seat belt.

Police accident reconstruction specialists were at the scene for several hours. The investigation continues.