'Nothing Short Of Heroic': Staff Saves All 33 Children After Car Crashes Into Daycare

December 17, 2025

What could have been a heartbreaking tragedy instead became a powerful story of heroism and community — thanks to the fast actions of daycare staff and first responders in Yukon, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City Fire Department

Last weekend, a vehicle crashed off the roadway and slammed into a La Petite Academy on West Reno Avenue, igniting a fire inside the building. At the time, 33 children and five adults were inside.

Within moments of the impact, teachers sprang into action.

Staff members immediately began evacuating children — some just one year old — carrying two or three at a time through smoke and chaos. One teacher later shared that she had been in a classroom just five minutes before the crash and had almost gone home early, but chose to stay.

“When I heard the loud bang and the power went out, kids were screaming,” she wrote. “That’s when I saw the fire. We were grabbing kids and holding them so they wouldn’t run back inside. Most of our one-year-olds don’t understand danger yet.”

Thanks to their calm, training, and courage, every single child and adult made it out safely. No children were injured.

Fire officials later confirmed that regular evacuation drills played a major role in the successful escape. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke, flames, and a vehicle embedded in the building. While the structure is expected to be a total loss, what truly mattered was not.

La Petite Academy praised its staff’s “heroic” response, while also expressing gratitude to first responders, neighbors, and fellow childcare centers who rushed in with blankets, food, water, and comfort for shaken children and families.

“First and foremost, to our incredible staff members…Your professional response and quick action in getting our children swiftly to safety was nothing short of heroic.”

Police and fire crews were noted not just for their emergency response, but for the kindness and gentleness they showed as they helped children in the aftermath.

All 33 children are now home safely with their families — and an entire community is grateful beyond words.