Tragedy unfolded in St. Lucie County as a submerged car with two deceased individuals was discovered near Fort Pierce, sparking a thorough investigation by local authorities. According to CBS12, the vehicle, identified as a Nissan rental with Mississippi plates, contained the bodies of two adult women in the backseat when workers stumbled upon it while performing canal maintenance.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) noted that the women, who were a couple residing in the vicinity, had journeyed to Miami for the weekend and were en route back home when their car veered off the road and plunged into the canal after midnight yesterday morning; the reason for the crash is still unknown, foul play, however, is not suspected in the incident at this time. One of the victims hailed from Fort Pierce while the other called Okeechobee home, yet their identities have not been disclosed to the public.
In response to the grim discovery and ensuing tasks, Orange Avenue was cordoned off for several hours between Sneed Road and the Okeechobee/St. Lucie County line, which was reported by WPBF. The road closure allowed dive teams and law enforcement officers, one armed with a rifle due to the canal's alligator population, to work uninterrupted while recovering the submerged vehicle using a tow truck.
While Orange Avenue has since reopened, officials advise travelers to remain vigilant and consider alternate routes during such times of investigative work as the FHP continues to piece together the events that led to the tragic demise of these two individuals. The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has provided support during the investigation.
