The Eyrie

ORLANDO, FL — A 79-year-old Orlando driver crashed into a daycare on Thursday afternoon, sending himself, three 4-year-old children and an adult to area hospitals, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The vehicle struck Tattle Tales Learning Center after leaving Pine Hills Road near Elinore Drive around 2:58 p.m. Investigators said the 2003 Honda CR-V was traveling in the outside southbound lane when, for reasons still unknown, it ran off the road and crossed into the northbound lanes.

Fire officials later said everyone involved was in good condition. Orange County also determined the building was unsafe for human occupancy after the crash, and crews boarded up the damaged area.

Investigators say the SUV left Pine Hills Road for unknown reasons

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver was headed south when the Honda CR-V veered off Pine Hills Road. The vehicle then crossed over the center area and ended up in the northbound lanes before hitting the daycare.

Officials have not said what caused the driver to lose control. The crash remains under investigation, and no additional details about speed, medical issues or possible contributing factors were immediately released.

That uncertainty has left the community waiting for answers about how a vehicle could reach the daycare from the roadway in the first place. For now, investigators are treating the incident as an open crash case rather than a resolved mechanical or medical event.

First responders and teachers worked to clear the building

There were 14 people inside the building when the crash happened, according to information from the scene. First responders and teachers helped move everyone to safety and calm the children after the impact.

Orange County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Nichol Stratman said there were early reports that one child had been trapped under the vehicle. He said that child was pulled out before crews arrived and was treated afterward.

The quick response helped limit the chaos inside the daycare, where staff were trying to account for children and make sure they were safe. Officials have not reported any life-threatening injuries.

A teacher described panic after hearing what sounded like an explosion

Akeyya Luckett, a teacher at Courtney’s Little Learners STEM Academy, said she was getting students ready to wake up from nap time when she heard a loud bang.

She said another teacher told her it sounded like an explosion, and staff rushed outside and toward another classroom before learning that a vehicle had gone into the daycare. Luckett said the moment was frightening because children were suddenly panicked and looking for their parents.

She said the experience was upsetting because children are supposed to feel safe at school or daycare. Her account underscored how quickly an ordinary afternoon turned into an emergency for staff and children.

Building damage forced the daycare area to be boarded up

Orange County later said the damaged portion of the building was unsafe for human occupancy. Crews boarded up the affected area as a precaution after the crash.

The crash created not only a medical response but also a property and safety problem for the daycare. With the structure deemed unsafe, the facility had to deal with damage assessment and the immediate disruption to operations.

Officials have not said how long the building will remain restricted or what repairs will be needed before it can safely reopen. The crash location sits along a busy corridor that neighbors said already sees frequent traffic problems.

Neighbors and staff call for more caution on Pine Hills Road

Chanda Laird, a Pine Hills resident, said she heard about the crash on Facebook and stopped by after being rerouted while heading home from work. She said she wanted to see what had happened after arriving near the scene.

Laird said crashes on the road are common and claimed there have been accidents there at least twice a week. Staff members at the daycare also urged drivers to be more alert, especially because several child care centers line the road.

Luckett said the number of daycares in the area makes caution especially important. Her message was simple: drivers need to slow down, pay attention and stay aware of the people and buildings close to the roadway.