Nine people lost their lives and one individual remained after a significant vehicle accident led to a car plummeting into a canal in Palm Beach County, as per authorities' updates today. NBC Miami reported that the incident took place around 7:30 p.m. yesterday night at the crossroads of SW Conners Highway and Hatton Highway, contacting outside of Belle Glade.

According to ABC News, responders discovered the vehicle overturned with only its wheels protruding from the water. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Capt. Tom Reyes disclosed that they responded quickly, but the scene was sobering, involving adults and children among the victims, and an officer from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office also sustained injuries.

"This is a very significant scene. This is a very tough call. We do have critical incident stress debriefing teams coming to talk to our firefighters, to work with the Sheriff’s department," Captain Reyes told NBC Miami. Highlighting the gravity of the event, he added, "But I've been with the department for 20 years and this is one of the most difficult scenes I've been on."

At the scene, fire rescue personnel, divers, and Palm Beach Sheriff's Office deputies found the car submerged and worked expeditiously to rescue the victims. Four individuals lost their lives on site. Six others were initially taken to the hospital, where five were tragically pronounced dead, according to the latest udpates. Authorities at the scene have not yet provided information about the exact factors leading up to the crash.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is presently handling the investigation to uncover the circumstances behind the tragedy.