BELLE GLADE, Fla. – The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday that its investigation into the cause of a horrific crash in Belle Glade killed nine people, including six children, is ongoing.
The single-car crash occurred Monday night on the 5800 block of Hatton Highway.
Investigators said the driver of a 2023 Ford Explorer missed a curve, hit a guardrail, and then crashed into a canal.
“Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened,” said NTSB’s Alvin Brown.
“She drove and she was supposed to turn, and her son realized it and grabbed the wheel, trying to turn it, but it wouldn’t turn at all,” said Anntianette Edwards, who lost her 5-year-old son in the crash.
Edwards, the sole survivor of the crash, told relatives there were issues with the SUV’s steering but opted not to exchange the rental due to the distance traveled.
According to Kelly Blue Book, 118 units of the 2023 Ford Explorer had a recall for a steering problem where the strut might not have been properly fastened.
David Freeman, a technician at Armstrong Auto Care, told Local 10′s Roy Ramos that a missing bolt could significantly affect vehicle handling.
“If the bolt is missing, it could tilt and you would lose steering,” Freeman said.
While investigators have not confirmed if the recall issue contributed to the crash, Freeman noted that an overloaded SUV with ten people is unsafe.
“Overloading lowers the vehicle, compromising steering, tire pressure, and braking,” he added.
There is still no confirmation on whether the vehicle involved had a recall, and the rental car company has not yet been identified.
Ford has reported no crashes caused by this defect.