Only one person riding in an overloaded SUV has survived a crash in South Florida. Nine people, including children, were killed after the vehicle crashed into a canal Monday night in western Palm Beach County, authorities said.
The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. at the 5800 Block of Hatton Highway in Belle Glade, just south of Lake Okeechobee and about 45 miles west of West Palm Beach.
Four of the ten passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. Six passengers were injured, but five of them died at the hospital.
“We have one survivor for a total of 10 victims,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) said in a statement on Facebook.
Authorities said a 2023 Ford Explorer was traveling at an unknown speed south near Conners Highway when the female driver failed to navigate a sharp, narrow left curve.
The SUV veered off the roadway and onto the grass shoulder. It then struck a guardrail before flipping into the canal that runs parallel to the road.
When rescue crews arrived, the SUV was upside down and partially submerged underwater, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Capt. Tom Reyes told reporters.
“This is a very significant scene. This is a very tough call,” Reyes said. “I’ve been with the department for 20 years, and this is one of the most difficult scenes I’ve been on.”
A Palm Beach County deputy was also injured and taken to the hospital.
The lone survivor has been identified by authorities as 26-year-old passenger Jorden Hall. He remains hospitalized in serious condition.
The driver of the SUV was among those who died. She has been identified as Pamela Wiggins, who would have turned 57 years old the day after the crash.
The other deceased adults have been identified as 30-year-old Leiana Alyse Hall and 21-year-old Anyia Monique Lee Tucker.
The children who died in the crash have been identified as 14-year-old Michael Anthony Hall Jr., 8-year-old Imani Andre Ajani Hall, 5-year-old Kamdien Edwards, 5-year-old Yasire Smith, three-year-old Ziaire Mack, 3, and one-year-old Naleia Tucker.
NTD News contacted PBSO for further details on the deadly crash but did not receive a response by publication time.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this heartbreaking incident,” the sheriff’s office said in an Aug. 6 Facebook post.
According to the Ford website, a 2023 Explorer has a maximum capacity of seven passengers. The SUV was carrying a total of ten passengers, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Tropical Storm Debby made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida earlier Monday as a Category 1 hurricane. However, it is unclear if weather played a factor in the deadly incident. The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the crash and will likely learn more from the lone survivor of the crash.