New York ( CNN ) -- Seven people , including three children , died Sunday when a vehicle flipped over a guardrail and plunged nearly 60 feet to the ground , landing upside down in an area of the Bronx Zoo that is closed to the public , officials said . The crash occurred near the Bronx River Parkway and East 180th Street . `` Police determined that a 2004 Honda Pilot traveling southbound on the Bronx River Parkway in the left lane had struck the center median , crossed over three southbound lanes and struck the curb , causing the vehicle to become airborne and continue over the guardrail and fall approximately 59 feet down into a wooded area inside of Bronx Zoo property , '' the New York Police Department said in a statement . Police identified the victims as driver Maria Gonzalez , 45 ; Jocelyn Gonzalez , 10 ; Maria Nunez , 39 ; Niely Rosario , 7 ; Marly Rosario , 3 ; Jacob Nunez , 85 ; and Ana Julia Martinez , 81 . All were pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation is ongoing , police said . NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said all the victims were wearing seat belts . He had previously given the older girls ' ages as 15 and 5 . Browne said the driver likely overcompensated when the left side of the SUV struck the barrier . The vehicle was traveling at a high speed , said FDNY Deputy Chief Ronald Werner . Zoo spokeswoman Mary Dixon said the vehicle landed just inside the southeast perimeter of the 265-acre zoo . A baby bag with diapers inside was found at the scene . `` It 's far from any public area , '' Dixon said . `` No animals , exhibits or visitors were affected . ... It would be impossible for any visitors to see this . '' The area where the vehicle fell is adjacent to where the zoo 's trams are parked , Werner said . The fire department 's Howard Sickles told reporters that in his 20 years he 's `` seen a lot of horrific things and this is one of them . '' The crushed vehicle came to rest in overgrown brush , Werner said . Authorities used thermal imaging cameras to find victims in case any had been ejected , he said . Authorities received multiple calls about the incident at about 12:30 p.m. , Werner said . In 2006 , six people died in an accident on the Bronx River Parkway near the site of Sunday 's crash . CNN 's Miguel Susana , Steve Kastenbaum , Ross Levitt and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report .
NEW : The dead include three children , ages 10 , 7 and 5 , police say . A 45-year - old woman was driving . All the children were wearing seat belts . The vehicle landed in front of the Bronx Zoo , a zoo ##keeper says .