ORMOND BEACH, Fla. — Several children on the beach were struck by a vehicle that veered off a nearby road in Ormond Beach, troopers said Wednesday.
- Car veers off State Road A1A in Ormond Beach
- Vehicle crosses through parking lot, hits 4 kids on beach
- FHP says injuries don't appear to be life-threatening
A medical helicopter was brought to the scene of the crash, which happened at Roberta Road and State Road A1A just after 4 p.m.
According to preliminary information by the Florida Highway Patrol, 82-year-old William Johnson, of Yarmouth, Massachusets, was driving a 2012 Toyota Venza northbound on S.R. A1A.
Troopers then say Johnson tried pulling onto the shoulder of the road to make a u-turn when he somehow lost control of the vehicle, went through a parking lot, struck a pole, and then veered onto the beach through a fence, Lt. Kim Montes said.
According to FHP, the Toyota ran over a 5-year-old girl, who was most seriously hurt. The vehicle also struck a 3-year-old boy, an 11-year-old boy, and another 5-year-old girl, who was the other 5-year-old girl's twin.
All four are siblings, says FHP. Their parents were on the beach at the time of the crash.
All of the children and the driver of the car were taken to Halifax Medical Center.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, she said.
The surprising sight drew a crowd of curious onlookers trying to figure out how the wild wreck happened.
“I don’t understand how. I don’t see tire marks in the grass, nothing looks disturbed, so I’m just kind of confused how everything happened, and I feel so sorry for those families it’s just wrong place, wrong time," said Ormond Beach resident Tiffany Moceri.
Sonny Wyrsing was sitting in his car near the beach when it happened.
"A friend of mine who lives over yonder, he went down there to see what he could do ... and he said the guy in the car was incoherent. He was awake but kind of lost, shook up,” Wyrsing explained.
Volusia County Beach Patrol officers also responded to the scene.
Troopers say Johnson was ticketed for careless driving and was recommended for a driver's license re-evaluation.