SUV horror crash leaves nine members of the same family dead including six children aged 1 to 14 after Ford Focus flips into canal on the way back from a relative’s 80th birthday party

Tragedy has struck in Florida after a horrific accident killed nine members of the same family, including six children, as they returned from a relative’s 80th birthday party on Monday night.

Emergency services in Palm Beach County, in the southeastern part of the Sunshine State, received reports of an SUV that had fallen into a canal near the town of Belle Glade around 7:30 p.m.

Rescuers found the SUV, a 2023 Ford Explorer, upside down with only its wheels above the water. Sources told local media that the canal is about 6 feet deep and the surrounding ground was particularly muddy on Monday due to recent heavy rains.

Four of the 10 people in the car at the time were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other six were taken to hospital. Five of these people later died in hospital, while one remains in serious condition.

The nine dead were identified as Kamdien Edwards (age 5), Anyia Monique Lee Tucker (age 21), Pamela Wiggins (age 56), who was driving the vehicle at the time, Naleia Tucker (age 1), Yasire Smith (age 5), Imani Andrea Ajani Hall (age 8), Michael Anthony Hall Jr. (age 14), Leiana Alyse Hall (age 30) and Ziare Mack (age 3).

The only survivor is believed to be 26-year-old Jorden Hall.

Emergency responders (pictured) found the SUV, a 2023 Ford Explorer, upside down with only its wheels above the water

Sources told local media that the canal (pictured) is about six feet deep and the surrounding ground was particularly muddy on Monday due to recent heavy rainfall.

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

All ten of them were in Florida for an elderly relative’s 80th birthday and were on their way to the airport to fly back to their home in Connecticut.

Serious questions have been raised about whether this tragedy could have been prevented.

According to an official crash report obtained by local media, no one in the car was wearing “safety equipment,” in the form of seat belts, as the car drove along the road.

For unknown reasons, Wiggins failed to negotiate the sharp, narrow turn that was so tight that a car and a truck would have had trouble fitting in at the same time. The report did not say how fast the car was traveling when it crashed.

In addition, Ford Explorer drivers are urged to never carry more than seven people in their vehicle at a time.

However, according to family members, there were problems with the rental car at the time.

Anntianette Edwards, whose only son Kamdien Edwards tragically passed away, said that while the family had notified the rental company of the unspecified problems, they didn’t feel like driving two hours to get a new car because they were returning to Connecticut that day.

Family members have since expressed their horror at the loss of so many loved ones at once.

Edwards said: ‘I knew something was wrong, I called the plane and they said they couldn’t get on their flight.

“It’s just like a nightmare.”

She revealed that her son was about to start school, adding: “He was happy, funny, not afraid of anything. A daredevil. He was just a happy baby, we gave him everything he wanted.”

Antoine Wright, a cousin of the victims, added: ‘My family has been through a lot and I just want everyone to pray for me.

“My family needs a lot of strength, prayers and support in this situation.”

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to cover funeral expenses for the nine people who tragically died.

At the time of publication, just under $15,000 has been raised of the $100,000 goal.