Body Pulled From Deerfield Lake After SUV Crash
DEERFIELD BEACH (CBSMiami) – Three people are dead, a third critically injured after an SUV plunged into a Deerfield Beach lake Wednesday night.
The accident happened around 10 p.m., when a Lexus SUV heading southbound on I-95 was involved in a three vehicle crash between Hillsboro Boulevard and SW 10th Street. The SUV's driver, 37-year old Nadege Theodore of Pompano Beach, lost control, crashed through a fence and then plowed into the water.
Sheriff's Rescue divers pulled Theodore, her 16-year old nephew Guivens Daverman and 20-year old Sandilee Jean-Baptiste from the water. Two were found outside the SUV, the third inside: all were in cardiac arrest.
All three were taken to Broward Health North, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Theodore and Daverman died from their injuries, according to family members.
Daverman's father Cakmand described his son as a bright, happy and outgoing child who loved school and church and died much too soon.
"Sixteen years old just about to know people, just about to do things. It's very hard," he told CBS4's Carey Codd.
Daverman's uncle Jay Joseph, sad he is nephew aspired to be a dentist.
"This kid was far beyond what you would expect coming up from right here," he said. "He had dreams, he had goals, he had the power to impact people."
Daverman's father said his son was in the car with two of his aunts and a cousin when the crash happened. He said the loss of his son is a pain he doesn't know if he will ever get over.
"Everyone loves him. He's like, for me, a superstar," said Cakmand.
Police say they thought they had gotten everyone out, but someone in the family alerted them that was not the case.
"Once we made next of kin notification, one of the family members notified us that there was possibly a fourth person in the car," said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky
A 15-year old girl who was reportedly also in the SUV was not found.
Paramedics were able to restore a pulse to Jean-Baptiste who is in critical condition, said relatives. Her boyfriend and Naveen Chaudhary, a friend, rushed to the hospital when they heard what had happened.
"All I know is she's on life support and I don't know if we can see her or not," said Chaudhary.
Broward Sheriff's divers returned to the lake at daybreak on Thursday to conduct a search after it was learned there may have been a fourth person in the vehicle. Just before 8:30 a.m., Chopper4 over the lake spotted them bringing up a body in a yellow bag believed to that of the 15-year old girl who was missing..
Family members said Theodore had just picked the others up at the Boca Town Center Mall and was on the way home to Pompano Beach when the accident happened.
The FHP is still investigating the accident.
"The damage to the vehicle (Theodore's SUV) was not that severe, it was basically minor damage to all three vehicles involved in the crash," said Wysocky.
The FHP is waiting on the Medical Examiner to determine the official cause of death.
At this time no charges have been filed.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel said there was some delay in their response time because they were given bad information from callers to 911 as to where the accident occurred. They said they were able to arrive within 20 minutes of the crash.
