A 70-year-old woman drove onto a sidewalk and slammed into 10 people, including nine children, at an elementary school in Del Mar, California, Friday afternoon, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).
Police say the woman was backing into a parking spot and hit another vehicle. She panicked, put the car into drive and hit the gas. That's when she drove onto a sidewalk and crashed into the children, who were standing on the sidewalk in the student pick-up area in front of the school.
The incident happened at Del Mar Heights Elementary School, located at 13555 Boquita Dr., around 2:35 p.m. in north San Diego County.
Nine children, including an 11-month old baby plus one adult, were injured in the crash. The infant was in a stroller which authorities said was pinned beneath the car.
[G] 9 Kids Hurt in Crash Near Del Mar Heights Elementary School
Several ambulances were requested to treat the injured, including an air ambulance, which transported victims to Rady Children's Hospital.
Several victims who were hit at the curb were taken to area hospitals, at least three with "traumatic" injuries.
A representative for Rady Children's told NBC 7 at least three very young victims from the crash had been admitted into the hospital. One child, who appeared to be between three or four years old, was being cradled by a paramedic, the spokesperson said.
Intial reports said six children were injured in the crash. As of 4 p.m., Lee Swanson, a spokesman with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), said the total number of patients hurt in the crash had increased.
Three additional victims included the driver of the car that hopped the curb and a child who was in the backseat of that vehicle. A parent who ran over to help the group of children was also hurt when she sprained her ankle. Swanson said these three additional patients were treated at the scene and were not initially transported to hospitals.
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Three of the children hurt in the incident are related, authorities confirmed. A three-year-old child suffered scrapes and scratches, while an infant victim suffered swelling to the face. A five-year-old child suffered a fractured femur.
There were no life threatening injuries. According to SDPD, the most serious injury was to the five-year-old child with the broken femur.
Police say alcohol or drugs are not suspected; the investigation is ongoing.
Initial reports from authorities indicated a school bus may have been involved in the collision, but Swanson confirmed this was not the case.
Del Mar Heights Elementary School teaches kindergarten to 6th grade students and is part of the Del Mar Union School District. According to the school's website, dismissal time for students on Friday was 2:30 p.m. — about five minutes before this accident.
