9 dead, 1 injured after SUV crashes into Palm Beach County, Florida canal

Nine people have died, and one person is in serious condition after a fatal car crash in Florida on Monday, authorities say.  

Around 7:29 p.m. on Aug. 5, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a crash on Halton Highway in Belle Glade, about 44 miles west of Palm Beach, that an SUV drove off the road and crashed into the canal, the press release from the sheriff’s office said.  

The press release said that the 2023 Ford Explorer was traveling westbound on the highway when the vehicle approached a left southbound curve. The driver failed to make the left turn, and the vehicle then drove off the road onto the grass shoulder, hit the guardrail, and overturned into the canal.  

The vehicle was found "partially submerged and upside down" in the canal, the release said.

Four passengers in the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, Teri Barbera, a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, told USA TODAY in a statement.  

Six of the passengers were transported to trauma centers, and five of them later died, Barbera said.  

A 26-year-old man, a passenger in the SUV, is currently in serious condition, the release said.  

Capt. Tom Reyes of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue told USA TODAY that five children and five adults were involved in the crash.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

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The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office calls the crash a ‘heartbreaking incident’ 

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office shared a post on Facebook regarding the crash.

“Last night in Belle Glade, a tragic crash occurred at the 5800 Block of Hatton Highway, resulting in multiple fatalities,” the post read. “Tragically, Fire Rescue confirmed 4 victims were pronounced deceased on the scene, and 6 were transported to a local hospital where 5 additional victims passed away.” 

The office is praying for the victims and their families now.  

“We have one survivor for a total of 10 victims,” the post read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this heartbreaking incident.” 

The sheriff's office is now investigating what caused the crash.

Victims identified in the crash

The sheriff's office on Tuesday identified all 10 people who were in the SUV but only released places of residence for some of them, the Palm Beach Post, part for the USA TODAY NETWORK reported.

Two of the victims under age 15 lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, about 18 miles south of New Haven, and a third in Alexandria, Virginia, the article said,

The driver was identified as Pamela Wiggins, who died one day before her 57th birthday, the Palm Beach Post reported. A sheriff's report did not list a place of residence for Wiggins or specify her relationship to the nine passengers.

Passengers killed in the crash were:

• Leiana Alyse Hall, 30
• Anyia Tucker, 21
• Michael Anthony Hall, Jr., 14
• Imani Hall, 9
• Kamdien Edwards, 5
• Yasire Smith, 5
• Ziaire Mack, 3
• Naleia Tucker, 23 months

Kamden Edwards and Anyia Tucker were from Connecticut, while Ziaire Mack was from Virginia, the article said.

The article also said that the lone survivor was identified as a 26-year-old passenger, for whom a place of residence was not provided.

Contributing: Julius Whigham II and Valentina Palm, Palm Beach Post.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.