Florida death crash accused turns self in

A man who fled in the vehicle that caused another car to crash into a Florida daycare centre, killing a 4-year-old girl and injuring more than a dozen others, turned himself in to authorities last night.

Robert Corchado, 28, had been on the run following the crash.

Cindy Williams, a spokeswoman for Florida Highway Patrol, said he turned himself in about 24 hours after the manhunt began.

At a news conference earlier yesterday, Williams said Corchado’s photo was broadcast statewide, and points of exit, such as airports and ports, had been alerted.

Corchado, 28, was the driver of a Dodge Durango involved in the crash, which rear-ended another car as it slowed to turn into the daycare entrance, police said.

The second car, a Toyota Solara, jumped the footpath before going through the parking lot and into the front of the daycare centre, striking several children and coming to a halt at the back of the building.

The Durango fled the scene in the Orlando suburb of Winter Park and was found later.

Thirteen people were taken to five different hospitals and two were treated at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the car that lodged inside the daycare centre was not seriously hurt. At least one of the injured remained in critical condition last night.

The death of the 4-year-old child was announced by the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Corchado has been arrested eight times since 2000.