On the night of Monday to Tuesday, a van carrying the faithful of the Independent Haitian Assembly of God of Fort Pierce has dropped several meters before stopping in the shallow water of a canal.

The accident occurred around 12:30 Monday in Glades County at an intersection. Glades County is located to the west of Lake Okeechobee and about 80 miles from West Palm Beach, while the van [2000 Dodge Ram Wagon B3500 Maxi], returned to his church in Fort Pierce, after a weekend convention in Fort Meyers according to the Florida Highway Patrol

"They didn't see that stop sign. They shot right through it," declared County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Duane Pottorff. "18 people were in the van [...] that's a very steep embankment, and they kind of did a nosedive," declared Lt. Gregory S. Bueno of the Highway Patrol. The accident resulted in 8 victims whose driver and 7 passengers (4 men and 3 women) as well as 10 injured, some of them seriously. All the people in the van were from Fort Pierce.

A 911 call came in at 12:31 a.m. and relief arrived four minutes later, officials said. The Florida Highway Patrol has identified 10 other passengers sent to four hospitals. 3 adults were in serious condition and 3 of others in critical condition.

List of victims : (source Florida Highway Patrol)

Volsaint Marsaille, (58)

Judge Petit-Frere, (66)

Obernise Petit-Frere, (58)

Lifaite Lochard, (58)

Madeleine William, (53)

Wanie Larose, (60)

Dazilla Joseph, (79)

Servilus Dieudonne, (71)

Injured list :

Jose Zimero, (26), of Fort Pierce in serious condition

Clodette Fleurvil, (44), of Fort Pierce in critical condition

Innoncent Roseme, (89), of Fort Pierce in critical condition

Jean Rafael, (73) in serious condition

Nozaire Nore, (48) minor injuries

Nicholas Alexis, (57) minor injuries

Esperant Lexine, (57) in critical condition

Macaty Jean Jacques, (53) in fair condition

Marilia Dieudonne, (65) in serious condition

Faeyana Desirus, (4) discharged from the hospital

Words of sympathy of the Consulate of Haiti in Miami :

"It is with great sadness and deep emotion that the Consulate General of Haiti in Miami learned the accident [...] The Consulate General of Haiti in Miami present on this occasion its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, relatives and the Haitian community of Florida.

Words of sympathy of the Consulate of Haiti in Orlando :

"The Consulate of the Republic of Haiti in Orlando has learned with great sadness the news of the terrible traffic accident occurred, Monday, March 30, 2015 [...] The Consulate of Haiti in Orlando while deploring the tragedy afflicting again, many Haitian families, presents its sympathies to the family, friends of the victims tried and the Haitian community of Florida."

SL/ HaitiLibre