PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in Palm Beach County today investigating a fatal crash on Hatton Highway that killed nine people.
The NTSB announced Tuesday afternoon that it would be sending a team to Palm Beach County to "conduct a safety investigation into Monday’s single vehicle crash," in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash happened Monday night on Hatton Highway, near Belle Glade, after a 2023 Ford Explorer driven by 56-year-old Pamela Wiggins slammed into a guardrail, flipped over, and landed in a canal. The crash report stated that none of the 10 people in the vehicle were using "safety equipment."
Region C Palm Beach County
'It's heart breaking:' Highway where crash happened is dangerous, community says
After their first full day on the scene Wednesday, NTSB held a press conference providing their process for the investigation.
"We investigate crashes that we can learn from, that were catastrophic in nature, and we have the best investigators in the country," NTSB Member Alvin Brown said. "We have the gold standard and we believe that this crash was a tragic event and that's why we're here."
NTSB is holding a briefing at the Palm Beach County Sheriffs office regarding Monday’s deadly crash near Belle Glade. NTSB member Alvin Brown says his team is investigating the crash. pic.twitter.com/gnltRbWMl5
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The NTSB will be investigating the scene for up to seven days and is expected to have a preliminary report finished within 30 days.
The investigation will involve looking into road conditions, road signage, any safety precautions being taken by the passengers at the time of the crash, if there was a possibility of a vehicle malfunction and an interview with the lone survivor. The NTSB will be working together with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
"The tragic thing here is the loss of life, so it's important for us to be here," Brown said. "Every life is precious."
Members of the Belle Glade community told WPTV that the highway is dangerous and "extremely dark" at night, as there are no streetlights.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner released a report determining that all nine victims' cause of death was drowning, and the manner was accidental.
