Eight people, including six teens and a baby girl, are recovering from a serious car crash Tuesday afternoon in Columbine Valley, on South Platte Canyon Road near Bowles Avenue.

Five of the victims were taken to Swedish Hospital, where their conditions range from good to critical.

Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a 16-year-old driver to lose control of her vehicle. She was carrying six passengers -- five teens and her 15-month-old child -- when the crash occurred.

Troopers say that at about 3 p.m, her Subaru Outback suddenly crossed over the median and swerved directly into oncoming traffic. A Hyundai Santa Fe traveling in the opposite direction then slammed into the side of the Outback, pushing both vehicles off the road and into a fence.

Three of the teens in the Subaru Outback were thrown from the vehicle because they were not wearing their seat belts, investigators said. They have serious injuries, and one 15-year-old boy is listed in critical condition. The baby girl was the only person in the Outback who was restrained, troopers said. She was strapped in a child's seat and was listed in good condition.

Troopers believe the teen driver -- identified as Meghan Donahue -- may have lost control, veered to the right shoulder and then overcorrected and drove into the other lane.

However, one witness told 7NEWS that a female passenger who was riding shotgun grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it.

Investigators say the other teens in the car -- all younger than 16 -- may have been a distraction.

"When you have younger drivers, they don't have the fundamentals out here of driving. They have such a short amount of time out here in a vehicle and the less distractions they have, the better they are," said Colorado State Patrol trooper Eric Wynn.

Investigators say Donahue was leaving a nearby alternative high school, Options High School, and had stopped by Goddard Middle School to pick up some friends.

Diane Leiker, a spokeswoman for Littleton Public Schools, said three of teens were from Options High School and two were from Goddard Middle School. One teen was not a Littleton Public Schools student, Leiker said.

Donahue was treated and released Tuesday evening. The 54-year-old woman driving the Hyundai Santa Fe, Diana Estores, suffered serious injuries but is listed in good condition.

Passengers Maryah Donohue, 15 months, suffered minor injuries; Briana Fowler, 16, suffered serious injuries; Christopher Compton, 15, has serious injuries; Daniel Mattison, 15, has serious injuries; Nikayla Mattison, 14, suffered moderate injuries; and Liana Mattison, 11, suffered serious injuries.

South Platte Canyon Road was closed for about four hours as the crash was investigated. Traffic was backed up for miles until the scene was cleared.

Charges are pending, based on the outcome of the investigation.

The rise in teen driving accidents has prompted state lawmakers to consider a number of new restrictions for young drivers. Earlier this year, a new law was enacted that extended teen driving permits to one full year, instead of six months.

Other measures being considered include limiting the number of passengers under the age of 21 that teen drivers can have in their car during the first year they are licensed and enacting a night-time driving curfew.

Those new restrictions will be considered when the Legislature meets in January.