WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A hit-and-run car crash into a day care in U.S. state of Florida injured 15 people, including at least 12 children, local officials said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon when a car was struck by a silver Dodge Durango, forced off the road and crashed into the KinderCare Learning Center in the Winter Park city in the Orlando metropolitan area of Florida.

More than 50 people were inside the day care at the time of the crash. Local fire rescue officials said 13 patients were taken to local hospitals and two were treated at the scene.

Of the 13 transported to hospital, 12 were children that range in age, said Fire Rescue spokesman John Mulhall at a televised press briefing.

"This was a very intense scene, a very severe scene," he said.

Orange County Sheriff's Office said via its twitter account that Florida Highway Patrol troopers later found a silver Dodge Durango in Winter Park, which is believed to be involved in the crash, yet without the driver inside.

Florida Highway Patrol officials said at the press briefing that the person of interest in the hit-and-run case is Robert Corchado.