Child dead in US daycare centre crash

WASHINGTON: A dozen children were injured and a girl killed when a car slammed into a daycare center Wednesday in Florida after being struck by a hit-and-run driver, police said.

Several children suffered “very serious” injuries following the incident at the Kind erCare centre in Winter Park, outside Orlando, said Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Wanda Diaz.

The young victims were rushed to hospitals in the region, where one later died, as police launched a manhunt for the owner of the SUV that prompted the tragedy.

Authorities did not release details about the dead girl, but the daycare centre is for children from six weeks to 12 years old, its website said.

Speaking at the scene, where parents had dashed to after news of the accident filtered through, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said: “Keep them in your prayers... together we will find whoever is responsible for this.”

One parent, Evette Rivera, 39, said she saw “a huge hole” in the side of the building that led into a classroom. There were more than 50 children inside at the time, according to Fire Rescue spokesman John Mulhall.

Diaz told a news conference the accident occurred after a silver or gray Dodge Durango sports utility vehicle crashed into another vehicle, sending it careening into the daycare centre. — AFP