SUV crashes into day-care

WINTER PARK, Fla.

- A car smashed into an Orlando-area day-care center yesterday, killing a girl and injuring 14 others, at least a dozen of them children, authorities said.

Wanda Diaz, a Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman, said a girl died at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, but she didn't have any more information on her.

One person at the hospital was in critical condition and five others were in serious condition, spokeswoman Katie Dagenais said.

In all, 13 people were taken to hospitals and two others were treated at the scene, said John Mulhall, spokesman for the Orange County Fire Rescue. Several of the injured at the KinderCare building in Winter Park were reported to be in "very, very serious condition," Diaz said.

Diaz said the Toyota Solara convertible had gone out of control after it was struck by a Dodge Durango, jumped a curb and smashed into the day-care building, breaking through the wall. That driver was not hurt.

The Durango fled the scene but was found almost two hours later after it had been left at a home. State police were looking for Robert Corchado, 26. Troopers said he was the Durango driver, but wouldn't say how they knew. Troopers said Corchado might have been trying to leave the area, and troopers and deputies headed to Orlando International Airport to look for him.

A man who answered a phone listed in Corchado's name hung up when asked, "May I speak to Robert Corchado?"

"Please keep a lookout and let us know if you see anything," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said.

Jacobs called the crash an "absolute tragedy and disaster."