Devastating news came from Palm Beach County, Florida earlier this week as authorities reported an SUV crash that resulted in nine fatalities, including six children, and left another man in serious condition. The crash occurred just before 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Hatton Highway and Southwest Connors Highway, just outside of Belle Glade. WFLX identified the driver as 56-year-old Pamela Wiggins, who was reportedly navigating a 2023 Ford Explorer westbound on Hatton Highway when the vehicle lost control.
According to WRTV, as Wiggins approached an southbound curve, the Explorer drove off the road, crashed into a guardrail, and subsequently flipped over into a canal. Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, revealed that "four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while another six were taken to a trauma center, where five of them died." A tenth passenger, a 26-year-old man, was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach with serious injuries.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office stated that the driver "failed to negotiate a left curve," leading to the vehicle veering onto the grass shoulder, striking the guardrail, and then overturning into the canal. NBC News reported the police's statement, which said, "We have one survivor for a total of 10 victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this heartbreaking incident."
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and any updates will likely shed light on both potential contributing factors and measures that may prevent future tragedies of this magnitude.
