Grand Prairie police: Day care van driver in accident had no license

04:58 PM CDT on Monday, September 28, 2009
By CHRIS DELL

A day care driver is accused of running a red light and having no driver's license after a morning rollover accident that sent more than a dozen children to the hospital, Grand Prairie police said.

Intersection of Mayfield Road and Great Southwest Parkway in Grand Prairie Karissa Acosta of Arlington was transporting 20 children in a 15-passenger van for Kids Clubhouse, a day care center in Grand Prairie, when the collision occurred near the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport. The 20-year-old driver will likely face additional charges, including allowing children to ride without seatbelts, police said.

The van was heading west on Mayfield Road shortly before 8 a.m. when it collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling north on Great Southwest Parkway, police said.

After the collison, the 2001 Dodge van overturned and came to a stop on its left side. Thirteen children, ages 3 to 11, were taken to area hospitals for non-life threatening injuries, authorities said. Acosta and seven children were not injured.

The Tahoe driver, Aracel Torres, 30, of Grand Prairie, and two young passengers, ages 2 and 4, were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Torres also did not have a license and will likely face traffic charges, police said.

A woman answering the phone at the day care said she could not comment on the accident and referred questions to the director, who was not immediately available.

The accident remains under investigation.

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