MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Three children were in a multi-car crash on I-75 in Marion County that also involved a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, authorities said.
According to FHP investigators, Trooper Raul J. Umana, 20, was making a U-turn in the center median when he hit a guard rail and ended up in the southbound lane.
That's when a car carrying three children hit the cruiser, and then caught fire.
A third car and a tractor-trailer were also involved, but no one in those vehicles was badly hurt.
The children are in critical condition. Their mother, Christeia Jones, is in serious condition.
WFTV is working to find out if the Umana will be cited.
Umana received minor injuries.
WFTV
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3B43T2F7BNEW7ANIHYRRZHM6A4.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3QUJVEHRZJBYTN5EMG2XI76ZH4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/QHOJ5OFMTFGYZP3G5I6D6ODSXU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2JV57MCBRFF7ZGZJKNBA25NQZQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YE7WVL7Q3ZCHHFUWXCP52QCRQQ.jpeg)