Leesburg, FL : 2-year-old killed, eight others hurt after a wreck on State Road 441 in Lake County on Tuesday, August 9, 2016

A child is dead and eight others are hurt after a wreck on State Road 441 in Lake County.

It happened in front of a Harley-Davidson dealership in Leesburg.

Police said preliminary findings show that the car, a Ford Taurus, likely caused the crash, crossing into the SUV's lane and causing it to flip onto its roof.

A 2-year-old was killed after being thrown from the SUV during the rollover crash.

Witnesses said it was tough to watch.

"I hear a thump, and then all of a sudden, after hearing, like, thump, I'm looking at it, thinking I'm watching a TV show because I see the van, the blazer, just rolling over and over," said Gator Harley-Davidson employee Manny Pena. "The next thing I know, I saw a man and a young kid just rolling over. I didn't think it was real."

Police said the SUV carrying eight people, six of them under the age of 18, was traveling north when the car likely crossed into its lane.

Leesburg police said the impact sent the SUV over the center concrete divider and it flipped up to three times. That's when the toddler was thrown from the SUV and killed.

Police said an elderly woman was behind the wheel of the Taurus, the only one in the car. Charges are possible for her and the SUV driver.

Police said the crash is still under investigation, but the fact that the child who died was ejected could indicate he or she was not properly secured.

"All death is a tragedy, regardless of circumstances, and any time that it's involving a child, it makes it that much worse," said Lt. Joe Iozzi with the Leesburg Police Department.

"It really traumatizes you," Pena said.

Police are still investigating the use of seat belts and car seats in the SUV. They are hoping that witnesses will come forward with what they saw.

WESH 2 News has learned that 15 crashes have occurred at the same stretch of road within the last three years. Six were reported in 2014, including a deadly motorcycle crash. Five crashes were reported in 2015, and four crashes have been reported there so far in 2016.

"I didn't think it was going to affect me, but it does when you see people like that," Pena said.

Police said they will not release the victims' names until their relatives are notified.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who saw it is asked to call Leesburg police.

Source :
Child killed, eight hurt in Leesburg crash