Officials: 5 hurt, including 3 kids, after SUV crashes into childcare facility in Orange County
SUV crashes into Pine Hills daycare, injuring 3 kids and 2 adults
A 79-year-old man lost control of his SUV, crashing into Tattletales Learning Center in Orange County, injuring three children, a daycare instructor, and the driver, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Three children are recovering in the hospital after an SUV crashed into Tattletales Learning Center in Orange County, injuring two adults as well.
The colorful walls of the daycare were reduced to rubble after the Florida Highway Patrol said a 79-year-old man lost control of his SUV and plowed into the building on Thursday afternoon.
SUV driver crashes into daycare in Orange County
What we know:
FHP said the crash was reportedly shortly before 3 p.m., near Ellinore Drive and Pine Hills Road. FHP said a 2003 Honda CR-V, driven by a 71-year-old man, ran off the road, across the northbound lanes, and crashed into the childcare facility on Pine Hills Road.
Three children, aged 4, and two adults – the driver of the SUV and an instructor inside the school – were all transported to the hospital. Nichol Stratman, a battalion chief with Orange County Fire Rescue, said all five are expected to be OK.
She said one child had more "serious" injuries than the others.
There were a total of 14 people inside the building at the time of the crash, Orange County Fire Rescue said. Some of the others were in a different room than the one that the SUV crashed into, officials said.
‘I heard children shouting’
What they're saying:
Ana, who lives across the street, said she heard the crash and rushed outside.
"When I got out, I heard children shouting, ‘We need help! We need help!’ When I went to see what was actually happening, the car was already inside," she said.
The crash happened around 3 p.m. on Pine Hills Road. Troopers said the driver lost control, crossed the median, traveled through oncoming traffic and struck the daycare.
Fourteen people were inside the building, including children as young as 4 years old.
"The fact that there are no fatalities here today is a blessing. I am very shocked," said Nichol Stratman, a battalion chief with Orange County Fire Rescue. "The poor kids were sitting at the table right after snack time, and that is where they were impacted."
Akeyya Luckett, who was working at a daycare next door, said parents, bystanders and nearby workers rushed to help evacuate the children.
"I seen other parents and bystanders helping people get the kids from out the building and taking down the windows, whatever they can to help the kids," Luckett said.
She said she and her co-workers also helped bring children into their center, where they waited safely for their parents to arrive.
"When the kids came into the center, they’re all panicking and asking where their mom was. It broke my heart because it’s like they were supposed to be safe there, and they felt the most unsafe in that moment," Luckett said.
Building occupancy denied due to damage
Local perspective:
Orange County's Building Department has denied occupancy of the building due to the extent of the damage, according to a spokesperson for Orange County.
What's next:
Three children, a daycare instructor and the driver were injured. First responders said all five were expected to recover and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating what caused the crash.
The Source: This story uses information from the Florida Highway Patrol, Orange County Fire Rescue, and from neighbors and witnesses interviewed by FOX 35's Laryssa Leone.