On August 5, 2024, about 7:19 p.m. eastern daylight time, a 2023 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) was traveling west on Hatton Highway near Belle Glade, Palm Beach County, Florida. While negotiating a left-hand curve, the SUV departed the roadway, struck and overrode a metal beam guardrail, overturned, and came to rest on its roof partially submerged in a canal adjacent to the roadway. The seven-seat SUV was occupied by a driver and nine passengers, including five children 8 years old and under. Only the driver and front-seat passenger were restrained. As a result of the crash, nine occupants were fatally injured and one sustained serious injuries.
We determined that the probable cause of the Belle Glade, Florida, crash was the driver’s excessive speed into a curve that had an advisory speed of 20 mph, which resulted in a roadway departure, rollover, and submersion of the vehicle in water. Likely contributing to the crash were impairing effects of the driver’s medical conditions and use of sedating medications. Contributing to the severity of the crash were the improper installation of the metal beam guardrail, insufficient seating positions and restraints for all occupants, and the non-use of appropriate restraint systems.
Post-Accident Actions
After the crash, Palm Beach County initiated a project to rehabilitate portions of Hatton Highway. The straight segments of the roadway east and south of the curve were resurfaced and restriped. Improvements completed or projected to be complete by the end of April 2026 include:
- Adding a shoulder and installing a new, stronger guardrail on the shoulder along the full length of the curve, eliminating the unpermitted road entrance.
- Building up the slope leading to the canal bordering the roadway, altering the curve’s horizontal alignment, and resurfacing the curve, which includes adding rumble strips for the shoulder, center line, and painted median island.
- Resurfacing and restriping straight segments of the roadway east and south of the curve.
- Enhancing signage along the curve.
