Starke, FL : 3 young children hurt in head-on crash in Bradford County on Tuesday afternoon, April 4, 2017

A woman and three young children from Raiford were injured Tuesday afternoon when their car crossed into the oncoming lane of State Road 100 and crashed nearly head-on with a tractor-trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the children, ages 4, 3 and 11 months. were not belted into the Toyota Corolla when it struck the big rig about 1:45 p.m., and a witness told them the car had been seen driving recklessly for several miles, crossing the center line several times.

FHP said Nicole Larkin, 27, was driving west toward Starke when her car struck the eastbound tractor-trailer near Southeast 129th Street.

The 3- and 4-year-olds were flown to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville with serious injuries. The youngest child and Larkin were taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The Florida Highway Patrol said all were expected to survive.

"I saw children, you know, being tended to," area resident Terri Wade said. "(I) heard screaming. It was just devastating. I had to cover my ears. So sad."

A source told News4JAX that concerned citizens were following the car because it was being driven erratically and they were concerned about the occupants of the car.

The Jacksonville-based truck driver was shaken up, but not injured.

"It hit home a little bit because I would never expect something like that to happen when I'm behind the wheel, but seeing it face-to-face definitely scares me," said Sara Wade, who has lived in the area for 40 years.

SR 100 was closed for about two hours while the accident was investigated and the highway was cleared. According to the FHP report, charges are pending.

Source :
3 young children hurt in head-on crash in Bradford County