3 kids among 5 hospitalized in crash involving daycare van in east Orange County
Three children were taken to a local hospital after a crash in east Orange County on Friday afternoon, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
It happened shortly before 4 p.m. Friday on South Alafaya Trail and Avalon Park Boulevard, said FHP Lt. Kim Montes.
The crash involved four vehicles, including a daycare van where three kids were among those hospitalized, Montes said. Two adults also were injured.
The three kids were transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Two adults were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Montes said.
None of the injuries are believed to be serious, troopers said.
The gray Mercedes and the daycare van were stopped at the red light on South Alafaya Trail, according to FHP Lt. John Carvalho.
A white Chevy Traverse, driven by a 43-year-old Orlando woman, came speeding down the street toward the red light and hit a Mazda from behind, Carvalho said. Investigators later said it appeared the SUV driver had a medical episode before the crash.
The 28-year-old female driver of the Mazda was not injured.
The SUV then struck the Mercedes and daycare van, Carvalho said.
The daycare involved was from Kids-R-Kids Academy, which has about 15 locations in Florida, including six in the Orlando-area.
The van, driven by a 29-year-old Orlando man, looked like it sustained minimal damage. But another car involved, the gray Mercedes, had significant damage to the front and back.
The 20-year-old male driver of the Mercedes sustained minor injuries, Montes said. That driver and the woman driving the SUV were taken to an Orlando Health hospital.
Troopers and Orange County Fire Rescue responded to the crash scene. The accident remains under investigation.
