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WEBVTT .AS YOU MENTIONED, THREE PEOPLELOST THEIR LIVES.DISTRAUGHT FAMILIES RECEIVED THEDEVASTATING NEWS AS POLICEOFFICERS TRIED THEIR BEST TOCONSOLE THEM.AMONG THE VICTIMS, A WOMAN WHOHAD JUST STARTED HER JOB AT THEAUCTION TODAY.>> WE JUST LOST OUR SISTER, AMOTHER, A DAUGHTER.JOHN: LEEZANDRA APONTE WAS AMOTHER OF THREE.SHE WAS INSIDE AS THAT OUT OFCONTROL CAR SLAMMED THROUGH THEWALL.>> SHE WAS IN BETWEEN THE WALLTHE WALL AND THE CAR.,THEY SAID THEY TRIED TO GIVEHER THE CPR.SHE WASN'T RESPONDING.JOHN: MARK LEE WAS ALSO WORKINGTODAY JUST FEET AWAY DIRECTING, TRAFFIC.>> I'M JUST STANDING THERE, THEWALL JUST EXPLODES.IT WAS LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF.JOHN: AS THE CAR CRASHEDTHROUGH, CHUNKS OF THE BUILDINGSHOT THROUGH THE AIR.>> A PIECE HIT ME IN MY ARM,A PIECE HIT ME AND MY LEG, ANDAS I AM FALLING BACK, SOMETHINGHIT ME ON MY RIGHT LEG.JOHN: MARK WAS AMONG THE MANYHURT.NINE OTHERS WERE HOSPITALIZEDWITH SERIOUS INJURIES.AND TONIGHT, AS THIS COMMUNITYTRIES TO SUPPORT THOSE GRIEVING,A WOMAN DELIVERED FLOWERS TOREMEMBER THE MAN AND TWO WOMENWHO LOST THEIR LIVES.

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Two women and one man died and several others were injured Wednesday when a Jeep struck several people at an auto auction in Billerica. The crash happened just after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Lynnway Auto Auction on Charter Way, about 90 minutes after an auction was scheduled to begin. A 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by an auction employee in his 70s, was in one of the facility's eight lanes when it suddenly accelerated and struck the victims. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third victim died at the hospital, according to District Attorney Marian Ryan's office. The driver of the Jeep was alert and talking to police after the crash, officials said. Of the nine people hurt in the crash, four remained hospitalized Wednesday evening. Five others had been treated and released. One of the victims was identified by her family as Leezandra Aponte, a 36-year-old mother of three from Lowell. Aponte's brother said she worked for a temp agency and it was his sister's first day working at the auto auction. "She leaves behind three kids, one just joined the Army and he's graduating next week in Georgia," he said. Woody Tuttle, an auto auction employee, said the driver of the Jeep was trying to avoid hitting other vehicles when it struck several people who were standing between the lanes. “I heard a screeching of tires, and, I believe, a Jeep Cherokee went flying by me. In avoiding the cars, whoever was driving this vehicle, hit several people,” Tuttle said. The Jeep then crashed through the side of the building. “(The driver) avoided the cars and went on to hit the people who were standing between the cars," Tuttle said. "Three (men) were on the ground being tended to. There was a woman who was crying, but she was standing up, and I saw two men on the ground who appeared to be dead." Randy Miller, who was attending the auction said it appeared the vehicle was traveling about 40 mph. “We heard a bang or an explosion. It was almost like a bomb. The whole place just went silent,” Miller said. “There were people just lying on the ground -- a horrific, crazy, tragic situation.” Massachusetts State Police said there were "multiple victims," and more than 12 ambulances were called to the scene. "At this point, there is no evidence or information to suggest the incident was caused by an intentional or terrorist act. All evidence and information at this time suggests an accidental cause," State Police said. The building was evacuated. “We are very saddened by today’s events at the auction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and families affected,” Lynnway Auto Auction posted on its Facebook page.