Six children were hit in Wilton Manors, Fla., late Monday afternoon when a vehicle reportedly careened around a stopped bus and struck them.
Shortly after the accident, two of the children were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the children fled the scene after reportedly veering onto the sidewalk to get around the bus and slamming into the kids. As of Tuesday morning, authorities were still searching for the driver in what has been described as a newer-model dark gray Honda Civic with damage and a detached bumper.
The vehicle was eventually located Tuesday, said a press release from the Broward County Sherriff's Office. However, authorities were still looking for the driver.
In the press release, the deceased children were identified as 6-year-old Andrea Fleming and 5-year-old Kylie Jones, both female.
According to the Wilton Manors Police Department, the four other children who were struck “sustained injuries ranging from serious to minor,” and some were in “critical” condition. They have been identified as 10-year-old Johnathan Carter, 9-year-old Draya Fleming, 9-year-old Laziyah Stokes and 2-year-old Audre Fleming.
Both bystanders and emergency responders worked immediately to provide aid to the victims.
Survivors were transported to Broward Health Medical Center in nearby Fort Lauderdale after the incident, WPLG reported. According to the outlet, the incident occurred 2:50 p.m. Monday in the 2400 block Northwest 9th Avenue.
“Investigators with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with our agency, continue to work diligently to identify who was behind the wheel of the hit and run vehicle, and to find answers for the victims’ families, and our community,” said the Wilton Manors Police Department.
“This is a heartbreaking evening for everyone, for families and for the first responders who responded to the scene,” said Miranda Grossman, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s just a horrible situation for the community, for the parents, for anyone who is involved,” said Fort Lauderdale Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan.
Anyone with further information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
This story has been updated.
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