An 11-year-old girl died and seven other people were injured in an early afternoon crash on Route 11 in the town of Watertown on Sunday.

Morgan R. Rabetoy, 11, died shortly after 9 p.m. at Samaritan Medical Center, a release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Erik Carr, 2, of Richland, was flown to Upstate Medical Center, after the vehicle he was riding in was struck by a van traveling the wrong direction. He was riding in the same car as Miss Rabetoy.

He was in a two-vehicle caravan from Oswego County heading toward Watertown when a southbound vehicle driven by Janine A. Smith, 46, Woodville, veered into the northbound lane, striking both vehicles, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies said.

Six other occupants, including Ms. Smith, are being treated at SMC with non-life-threatening injuries.

The first car struck went into a roadside ditch. Its occupants included Jack E. Carr, 31, Margaret E. Carr, 24, and Abigayle M. Trani, 2. All are from Richland.

The second vehicle was struck head-on. Its occupants were Gina M. Trani, 38, and Erik Carr, 2. They are also from Richland.

A supervisor at SMC said she did not have consent to give further information about the victims Sunday night.

The accident forced police to close the road for several hours between Falls Road and Route 232. It was reopened at about 5:20 p.m.

Charges are pending, according to a sheriff's department release. Town of Watertown fire and ambulance units responded, as did Guilfoyle Ambulance, Smithville and Adams Center firefighters, South Jefferson Rescue Squad, Sackets Harbor Ambulance, Rodman First Responders and state police.