WINTER PARK, Florida (CNN) — Central Florida authorities were looking Wednesday evening for a man after a Dodge Durango pushed a car into a day care center, fatally injuring one little girl and leaving 14 others, mostly children, hurt.
The child died at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Wanda Diaz said.
The driver of the Durango remained missing after the SUV was found about three hours later.
Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Monte said the agency was seeking to detain Robert Corchado, whom authorities believe was trying to flee the Orlando area. He is believed be in his mid- to late 20s.
John Mulhall, a spokesman for Orange County Fire Rescue, said 12 children and one adult were transported from the KinderCare in Winter Park to four nearby hospitals. Two other people were treated on scene, but Mulhall didn’t disclose whether they were children or adults.
Diaz ealier said the injuries in the 3 p.m. incident ranged from critical to minor. One child was pinned by the car, a Toyota convertible that was towed from the scene Wednesday evening.
The driver of the car wasn’t injured.
“We are heartbroken that several of the children in our care and an adult were injured in an accident today,” KinderCare said in a written statement. “We are pulling for those who have been injured to quickly recover from this tragic accident.”
There were about 50 children in the day care at the time of the incident.
Monte said it was a telephone tip that helped locate the missing Durango. Police had interviewed another witness that indicated Corchado was trying to leave the area.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs earlier said the missing driver would be located.
“Together, we will find whoever is responsible for this, and those families need to know that this whole community is behind them,” she told reporters.
