YULEE, Fla. – Eleven children and two adults were injured Friday afternoon when a Jeep Liberty headed north on Interstate 95 overturned near the Duval-Nassau county line, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Ebony Simmons, 34, was carrying 12 passengers and had just passed Pecan Park Road at 3:55 p.m. when the left rear tire blew out, causing her to lose control of the SUV, troopers said. The Jeep went off the highway, across the right shoulder, and overturned in the woods, according to the accident report.
All 13 people in the Jeep, who were from Gainesville, were taken to area hospitals.
A 14-year-old boy was taken to UF Health Jacksonville with serious injuries and the other 10 children -- who range in age from 3 to 14 -- suffered minor injuries, troopers said.
Troopers said six of the children were not using a seat belt or restraint.
A 36-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Jeep, was also taken to UF Health with serious injuries.
Simmons, who also suffered minor injuries, will face charges in the crash, according to the Highway Patrol.