Child as young as 1 among 9 killed after SUV crashed into Palm Beach County canal

A child as young as one and a woman whose birthday was hours away were among the nine people killed when an SUV crashed into a canal in Palm Beach County Monday night.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday identified the nine victims killed when the Ford Explorer went off a roadway and flipped into a canal in Belle Glade.

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while five others died at a hospital. One person survived and was hospitalized with serious injuries.

Authorities said none of the victims were wearing seatbelts.

The tragedy claimed the life of the driver, Pamela Wiggins, who would have turned 57 on Tuesday.

Also killed was 1-year-old Naleia Tucker, who would have turned two on Sept. 2.

Of the nine victims, six were children and three were adults.

Last night in Belle Glade, a tragic crash occurred at the 5800 Block of Hatton Highway, resulting in multiple fatalities. Tragically, Fire Rescue confirmed 4 victims were pronounced deceased on the scene, and 6 were transported to a local hospital where 5 additional victims… pic.twitter.com/nyTdZhQCxv

— PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) August 6, 2024

The other children killed were Ziaire Mack, 3; Kamdien Edwards, 5; Yasire Smith, who turned 5 last week, Imani Andre Ajani Hall, 8; and Michael Anthony Hall Jr., 14.

The other adults killed were identified as Anyia Monique Lee Tucker, 21, and Leiana Alyse Hall, 30.

The survivor was identified as 26-year-old Jorden Rickey Hall.

It appears that none of the people in the SUV were wearing seatbelts. A sheriff's office crash report lists "none" for safety equipment.

“I’ve been with the department for 20 years, and this is one of the most difficult scenes I’ve been on,” Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Capt. Tom Reyes said.

Authorities haven't said how they are connected but it's believed many are related and have ties to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a family member is a Bridgeport Board of Education custodial staff member.

“The amount of grief that comes from losing a loved one is never easy, and unfortunately, this instance calls for an unparalleled amount of sorrow as multiple losses have taken place," the city's mayor, Joe Ganim, said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board said they are sending a team to assist the sheriff's office with the investigation into the crash.

The NTSB, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, is sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into Monday’s single vehicle crash involving a sport utility vehicle that departed the roadway and flipped into a canal, near Belle Glade, Florida.

— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) August 6, 2024