Driver hits 4 children on Ormond Beach, FHP says

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – An 82-year-old driver visiting from Massachusetts was ticketed for careless driving after hitting four children Wednesday afternoon on Ormond Beach, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. at Al Weeks Sr. North Shore Park along State Road A1A near Roberta Road.

The FHP said the driver lost control of his vehicle, which traveled into a parking lot. Investigators said the car then went onto the beach, striking one of the kids.

Three other children were bumped by the Toyota Venza, troopers said.

Authorities recommended the driver for a license re-examination.

News 6 spoke to 11-year-old Wyatt Barber who said he was on the beach with his siblings when he was struck by the bumper of the vehicle.

"All I heard from my mom and my step dad, 'Run! Run! Run!' " said Barber. "I tried to get Coco to run, but she was just, the car was already there."

Barber, his 3-year-old brother and 5-year-old sister were released from Halifax Hospital a couple hours later.

Barber's other 5-year-old sister was airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville with a broken pelvis.

"I wish I was the one that got hurt the most," Barber said. "I just don't want anything to happen to the little ones."

The 11-year-old also said that he did everything he could to protect his siblings.

"I feel lucky. I feel like we've been blessed," Barber said.

Officials said the driver may have suffered a medical episode leading up to the incident and driver is under evaluation.

FHP is leading the investigation into the crash.

Check back to ClickOrlando.com and watch News 6 for updates on this developing story.