WFAA-TV

Authorities said a black SUV ran a red light, leading to the fatal accident.

PLANO — Sunday night, churchgoers met to mourn the loss of a family in the same place where the five had worshiped earlier that day before they were killed in a crash.

Five people heading home from a Sunday morning service at Custer Road United Methodist Church were killed when the minivan they were riding in was struck by a car that ran a red light, police said.

The victims — Geoff Hart, his wife, Christy, their 12-year-old daughter Rebekah and the two young girls they had been caring for the past several weeks. — were killed at the grisly accident scene near the intersection of Custer Road and Legacy Drive.

Officers and a police chaplain were at the scene as investigators combed the wreckage.

“Ninety-nine percent of us have family. We have children,” said Plano police spokesman Andrae Smith. “We’re devastated.”

Police said a black Pontiac was traveling west on Legacy Drive just before 11 a.m. when the driver ran a red light, struck a curb and fire hydrant before hitting the minivan, which was headed north on Custer. The Pontiac hit a pickup after striking the minivan.

Witnesses told police that the Pontiac was traveling much faster than the posted 40 mph speed limit on Legacy Drive.

The driver of the Pontiac was in critical condition at a hospital. The pickup driver suffered minor injuries.

“Right now, we’re in a state of putting the pieces to this investigation together,” Officer Smith said.

The identities of the victims were withheld, pending notification of relatives.

Officials at nearby Custer Road United Methodist Church confirmed Sunday that the Harts were members of the congregation. The husband and wife, both 41, along with their biological daughter and two foster children, were killed.

“Just horrific and devastating,” said Ron Henderson, a senior minister at the church. “That’s just all about I can say.”

Mr. Henderson described the husband and wife as “young and mission-minded.” The wife worked part-time at the church, helping out with membership. She and her husband also served as church volunteers.

“They were certainly very giving,” said Kenny Dickson, an associate minister at the church. “[She] just had a wonderful calling in life and ministering to others.”

Mr. Henderson said he spoke with the wife and two of the children before they left church Sunday.

“Give me a high five,” Mr. Henderson told the children. And they did.

Linda Dye joined hundreds of other at a 5 p.m. vigil at the church.

"It's horrible, horrible, especially when you have your own children," she said.

Jonathan Betz contributed to this report