Several children were injured Sunday after an SUV flipped and then crashed into a chain-link fence along I-4 in Tampa, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

  • Several children hurt after SUV crashes along I-4 in Tampa
  • Crash happened Sunday, 11 people inside vehicle

A mangled Chevrolet Suburban is all that's left following the crash. Keith Carson's son, daughter-in-law, her brother and eight grandchildren were riding in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The grandchildren range in age from 6 months old to 10 years old. Carson thought the worst when he heard about the crash.

"The premonition I got, four of them had died in the accident and that's all I could think of — are they dead?" he said. "I was told they flipped three times. ... All I'm thinking is the roof crushed them."

The children are expected to be OK, though.

Troopers said Carson's son was eastbound on I-4 when he lost control of the vehicle. It then flipped before crashing into the fence. Luckily, most of the 11 people inside the vehicle got out with minor bumps and bruises.

Carson said his daughter-in-law sustained some of the worst injuries, including a broken leg. She remains in the hospital with her brother and her 6-month-old son. All of the other children are back home.

Carson's family has been sending videos to keep everyone up to speed on the recovery. Despite having the grandchildren home, Carson said he's worried about the emotional toll the accident will take on them and the family.

"I was in a bus accident at a very young age, and I know when that bus flipped over and slid on its side when I got out (of) that bus, I just took off running," he said. "I had no idea where I was, what I was doing. I was deranged."

Carson said he's thankful everyone made it out of the crash alive.

"Prayers work," he said. "If it wasn't for God, my family, my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandkids would not be here today."

Troopers said three of the children weren't wearing seat belts. The driver was ticketed.