At least 1 child dead after car hits Florida day care center

An out-of-control car plowed into an Orlando-area day care Wednesday, killing at least one child. In all, 15 people, at least 12 of them children, were injured, according to a media representative at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

The hospital spokeswoman told The Associated Press she couldn't release any more information about the victim, including their ages and genders. One person at the hospital is in critical condition and five others in serious condition. One of the injured has been discharged.      

The highway patrol reported that the injured were taken to five different hospitals.    

Several of the injured at the KinderCare building in Winter Park were reported to be in "very, very serious condition," said highway patrol spokeswoman Wanda Diaz.

The injured include 13 people taken to hospitals and two treated at the scene, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.

Authorities said they located the Dodge Durango that started the chain-reaction crash almost two hours after the incident at a home in the area. The driver of the SUV fled the scene. Highway patrol said it is looking for 26-year-old Robert Corchado. 

Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Wanda Diaz says a car went out of control after it was struck by the Durango, jumped a curb and smashed into the day care, breaking through a wall and into the building. That driver wasn't hurt.

Troopers told the AP Corchado was the driver of the Durango, but wouldn't say how they established that.

Officials urge anyone with information to call the patrol at 407-737-2300 or 911.

"Please keep a lookout and let us know if you see anything," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said.

Jacobs called the crash an "absolute tragedy and disaster."

In a nightmare scenario for parents, local television footage showed small children and infants in cribs taken outside on the day care's playground and several of the injured were carried out on stretchers. About 50 people were in the building at the time of the crash.

Worried parents waited to pick up their children lates Wednesday afternoon, clutching their children as authorities escorted the moms and dads to their cars. 

The day care's website says the center provides childcare and learning opportunities for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old and has been in the community for over 25 years.

A woman who answered the phone Wednesday afternoon at KinderCare said she didn't have time to talk.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press