DELAND, Fla. – A pickup truck struck seven bicyclists Saturday morning in DeLand, sending four people to area hospitals, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the crash happened just before 7 a.m. near the intersection of Voorhis and Wade avenues. Investigators said a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado hit the cyclists.
FHP said three bicyclists were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center with serious injuries. Another cyclist was taken to HCA Lake Monroe Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The driver, identified only as a 30-year-old DeLand man, was not injured and stayed at the scene, troopers said.
Neighbor Aiden Padilla said his family woke up to the aftermath when someone knocked on their door seeking help.
“Then the ambulance got here, and they were all just kind of all freaking out and stuff. I don’t know, I think it’s kind of just crazy,” he said.
Padilla says the chaos spilled into his family’s driveway.
He says another driver trying to avoid the crash swerved off the road and hit a parked car outside the home.
“The guy was coming on that side of the road, on the wrong side of the road. And he was coming from this way. So they met up right here. And this guy swerved out and hit on the car,” Padilla said.
Padilla says cyclists frequently ride along this stretch of road and believes speeding has long been a problem in the area.
“People will be going 80 here every day. That’s why we don’t let kids out in the front. Because it’s just crazy drivers around here,” he said.
As investigators continue working to determine exactly what caused the crash, Padilla says he’s thinking about the cyclists injured in front of his home.
“I hope you guys feel better. All the cyclists that were ran over, anybody that was injured. I know that was pretty painful from the way I can see it. So I just hope you guys get better,” he said.
FHP says the crash remains under investigation.
This story is developing, check back for updates.