MOORE HAVEN, Fla. — A Palm Sunday service ended in tragedy when an Independent Haitian Assembly of God Church van crashed into a south Florida canal, killing eight people and injuring 10 others.
The church van from Fort Pierce was on the way back from the Palm Sunday service when it ran through a stop sign, crossed all lanes of U.S. 27 and landed in a canal in the rural southwest town of Moore Haven, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
"They didn't see that stop sign. They shot right through it," Glades County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Duane Pottorff said. "It was a sad evening."
A 911 call came in at 12:31 a.m., and deputies arrived four minutes later, officials said. The van had gone down an eight-to-10 foot embankment and landed in shallow water of the canal, which is lined with tall grass and weeds.
Raw Video: Fatal church van crash
Photos: 8 dead, 10 hurt in church van crash
Authorities said a husband and wife were killed. They had 10 children who were not involved in the crash. Another victim was a long-time St. Lucie County day labor employee.
"The only one thing I see is the van lost the control," said survivor Nicolas Alexis.
The victims range in age from 4 years old to 89 years old.
Survivors talked to WFTV about what they went through.
"We lost a lot of family members, and all we can do is pray to God," said Alexis.
Alexis, 57, was in the first row. He said he had to break a window to get out, and others begged for his help.
"'Help me. Let me out. Open the door.' All the doors [were] locked," said Alexis.
Alexis said the church's pastor in the front seat screamed: "I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"
Alexis' son sifted through clothes that emergency crews ripped off his father's back.
"To look at this and see this is what he came out of, it's a relief," said Alexis' son, Nicholson Alexis.
Nicolas Alexis' ribs are fractured and he has staples from head to toe.
But in amid the tragedy, he said he's considered blessed.
WFTV
