The Eyrie

ORANGE COUNTY, FL — A hit-and-run driver is being sought after a crash near the University of Central Florida left eight teenagers hospitalized Friday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers say the collision happened around 7:50 p.m. near Technological Avenue on University Boulevard. Investigators say a 2007 Honda Fit struck a 2020 Honda Civic from behind, forcing that car into a group of teenagers walking on the sidewalk after it had hit a 2025 Honda Civic.

All eight teens were taken to hospitals in the area, and one was treated as a trauma alert. FHP said the driver of the Honda Fit got out and ran away on foot.

Troopers say eight teens were walking on the sidewalk when the cars collided

Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that all eight victims were pedestrians at the time of the crash. Their ages ranged from 15 to 18, with four 15-year-olds, two 16-year-olds, one 17-year-old and one 18-year-old injured.

The crash scene showed signs of a forceful impact the next day. A metal pole nearby was bent almost in half and pulled out of the ground, underscoring how much damage the collision caused.

Troopers have not said which of the teenagers suffered the most serious injuries beyond noting that one was taken in as a trauma alert. The condition of the victims was not immediately released.

Witnesses helped officers track the abandoned Honda Fit

According to FHP, the driver of the Honda Fit abandoned the vehicle in a nearby hotel parking lot before fleeing on foot. Witnesses at the scene gave troopers a license plate number, which helped investigators locate the car.

Troopers impounded the Honda Fit and are using it as evidence while the case remains open. FHP has not publicly identified the driver.

The other two drivers involved stayed at the scene after the crash, investigators said. They were identified as an 18-year-old woman driving the 2025 Honda Civic and a 21-year-old man driving the 2020 Honda Civic.

Crash unfolded after one Civic was struck and pushed into the pedestrians

Investigators say the sequence began when the Honda Fit rear-ended the 2020 Honda Civic. That impact then pushed the Civic into the 2025 Honda Civic, before the chain reaction continued into the group of teens on the sidewalk.

FHP has not released a full reconstruction of why the crash happened or whether speed, distraction or impairment played a role. Those details remain under investigation.

The location near UCF meant the crash happened in an area where students and other pedestrians may have been nearby, though troopers have not said whether the victims were affiliated with the university.

UCF student says the crash is a painful reminder to drive carefully

Simon Jiaclone, an Orlando-area UCF student, said the crash struck a nerve because of how young the victims were and how suddenly it unfolded. He called the episode heartbreaking and said drivers need to take precautions behind the wheel.

Jiaclone also addressed the driver who fled, saying the person should turn themselves in. His comments reflected the concern many people feel when a hit-and-run leaves children and teens hurt in a busy area near campus.

The emotional reaction on the scene matched the physical damage left behind, with broken sidewalk hardware and damaged vehicles still visible after the crash.

Florida Highway Patrol asks anyone with information to come forward

FHP is asking anyone who saw the crash or knows anything about the driver to call *347 or CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS. Investigators say the case remains active.

For now, troopers are trying to identify the person who ran and determine exactly what led to the crash. The investigation will likely focus on statements from witnesses, the abandoned vehicle and any other evidence gathered at the scene.

Until then, the driver remains at large while eight teenagers recover from injuries sustained on a stretch of road near one of Central Florida’s busiest university areas.