9 children injured when van crashes into tree in Dana Point

Nine children in a passenger van were injured Wednesday afternoon when the vehicle struck a tree in Dana Point, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 3:20 p.m. at Dana Point Harbor Drive and Cove Road, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Five children suffered traumatic injuries and were taken to Mission Hospital, while four others had minor injuries and were picked up by their parents, said OCFA Capt. Tony Bommarito. The children were all between 9 and 12 years old.

It’s unclear what caused the crash. The driver, a woman who was not named, remained at the scene and was being interviewed by deputies, authorities said.

A witness told officials that he sees the woman driving the group in the area every day, Bommarito said. The van was pulling a trailer carrying a stack of surfboards.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchek

UPDATES:

5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the crash.

This article was originally published at 4:10 p.m.