A gray Dodge Neon involved in a fatal crash Aug. 8 in Dinuba that killed eight people, including five children, was car jacked from a man outside the Selma Denny's restaurant just hours before the fatal crash. According to the Selma Police, the carjacking victim, David Sperl, was outside Denny's restaurant at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 8 when he was approached by three Hispanic males. One of the suspects hit Sperl over the head with a silver revolver and took his vehicle keys, wallet and vehicle. The suspects drove away in the Sperl's vehicle. His car was a 2005 gray Dodge Neon, the same car involved in the deadly crash. Denny's is located at 2763 Highland Ave.

Selma Police Lt. Christie Ediger said the stolen Dodge Neon was the same vehicle involved in the crash. "It's still an open investigation and we're not completely sure that it's the same individuals that carjacked the Neon," she said. "It could be the same people or it could be a couple different people."

At 1:52 p.m. Aug. 8, Dinuba Police attempted to make a traffic stop on a Dodge Neon on Nebraska Avenue east of Crawford Avenue. The 2005 Dodge Neon, which had three occupants, did not pull over and a pursuit followed.

The driver of the Dodge Neon allegedly ran through a stop sign of Nebraska Avenue and Road 120 and collided with a 1997 GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling southbound.

All five children in the GMC truck were killed. None of the occupants in the car and truck were using seat belts.

All three occupants in the stolen Dodge Neon died at the scene of the crash. There has been witness that the police car in pursuit of the Dodge Neon was very close to the car. However, the Dinuba Police Department has not said it knows how far back the police car was.

The Dinuba Police only had one car pursuing the Dodge Neon. The police car pursued the Neon about 3.5 miles before it ran through the stop sign at Road 120.

The Tulare County Coroner's Office identified the three people who were in the gray Dodge Neon and died Saturday in the collision. The three occupants were Arthur Rivas, 19, of Dinuba; Richard Carrasco, 16, of Dinuba; and Oscar Esparza, 17, of San Diego. Authorities said Esparza was the driver.

The California Highway Patrol identified the deceased children from the GMC truck as Jochelyn Grace Salazar, 7; Monique Janae Salazar, 4; Michael Alexander Salazar, 3; and Sienna Rose Salazar, 1. They died at the scene. Carlos Eric Salazar, 8, was pronounced dead a few hours later at a hospital.

Their parents, Carlos Salazar Jr., 29, and Jennifer Salazar, 26, were reported in fair condition Sunday at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

A memorial fund has been established at Bank of America for those who wish to help with funeral expenses. Details: Mirtala Elizondo, 827-0699.