Three kids hurt when driver slams in to daycare

An elderly motorist lost control of her car today and slammed in to a North Philadelphia church where a daycare was being held, injuring three children inside, police said.

Shortly after noon, the 83-year-old woman hit the gas instead of the brake and crashed in to the Deliverance Evangelistic Church on Lehigh Avenue near 20th Street, police said.

Martha Addison, spokeswoman for the church, said about 65 young children who attend a Head Start program at the church sponsored by the school district had just come in from recess when the driver crashed through a fence and two sets of door and came to rest in the lobby.

Three young children, ages 3 and 4, who were at the back of the pack coming in from recess suffered injuries that are not life-threatening, Addison said.

Police said one of the children was treated for injuries to her right foot, one was treated for cuts to his face and the third was treated for injuries sustained from a fall. All three were taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for children while the driver of the vehicle was taken to Temple University Hospital for evaluation.

Addison said the incident was frightening, given recent events across the country.

"After what had taken place on Friday (in Newtown, Conn.), it was really very traumatic," she said. "We were all running. I just thank God it's no worse than what it is."