News

Grand Prairie day-care van carrying 20 children overturns in collision

Posted Monday, Sep. 28, 2009

By NATHANIEL JONES

njones@star-telegram.com

GRAND PRAIRIE - Jaylon Adams was riding in the Kids Clubhouse day-care van Monday morning "wondering in space" when he felt a jolt.

Seconds later, he was hanging from his seat belt.

"It was totally chaotic," the 9-year-old Starrett Elementary student said. "Everybody was yelling and crying before the back door opened up and people began pulling us out."

Jaylon was one of 20 children riding in the 15-passenger van shortly before 8 a.m. when it was broadsided by a Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle, police said. The impact caused the van to overturn at Mayfield Road and Greater Southwest Parkway in west Grand Prairie, near Arlington.

Jaylon was taken to Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital for what he said was a large bump on his forehead and back pain.

"I wasn't hurt too bad," Jaylon said. "But I was glad to see my mother."

The day-care van was westbound on Mayfield Road approaching Great Southwest Parkway when it swerved around a car stopped at a red light, police said. The van entered the intersection and was hit by the northbound Tahoe, police said.

It was unclear Monday afternoon whether street construction near the intersection played a role in the crash.

Neither driver had a driver's license, police said Monday.

Karissa Acosta, 20, of Arlington, was driving the day care's 2001 Dodge van.

She was unhurt, but she could face charges, said Sgt. Eric Hansen of the Police Department's traffic division.

"She will likely face multiple traffic charges, including running a red light and for allowing children without seat belts to ride in the van," Hansen said in a news release.

Investigators also believe that the van was filled beyond capacity, with some children unrestrained, Hansen said.

A law that took effect Sept.1 requires all children in 15-seat passenger vans to wear seat belts.

Thirteen children, ages 3 to 11, were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, Grand Prairie police said. Six were taken to Medical Center of Arlington, four to Methodist Mansfield Medical Center and three to Texas Health Arlington Memorial.

Day-care director Amber Gonzales could not be reached for comment Monday.

The Tahoe driver, Aracel Torres, 30, of Grand Prairie and two passengers ages 2 and 3 were taken to Baylor Medical Center at Irving with minor injuries, police said.

Torres also faces charges related to lacking a valid driver's license.

The day care voluntarily closed Monday, and parents were seen during the noon hour picking up their children from the facility at 4165 Magna Carta Blvd. in Grand Prairie.

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