NEW YORK - Seven people, including three children, were killed Sunday after a van plunged off a highway near the Bronx Zoo in New York City, police said.

The van was traveling on the Bronx River Parkway when it lost control, hit the highway median and crossed four lanes of traffic before smashing through the guardrail.

The vehicle fell some 50 feet (15 meters) into the Bronx Zoo, killing all those aboard, a police spokesman said.

Officials said that the victims included three girls, ages 12, 10 and 7; three women, ages 80, 45 and 30; and an 84-year-old man. It was not immediately clear if the victims were all related.

Authorities confirmed that no animals or zoo-goers were hurt in the accident. Part of the highway was closed for investigation into the cause of the accident.

The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the United States with more than 600 species of animals.