BELLE GLADE, Fla. — A wrongful death lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in connection with a crash on August 5, 2024, that killed nine family members, including six children.
The suit was brought by the estates of the deceased and the lone survivor, Jorden Hall. It centers on safety concerns regarding Hatton Highway, the location of the crash, which occurred as the family followed a marked detour due to construction on State Road 700.
According to the lawsuit, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had requested Hatton Highway for detour use in August 2022, an approval granted by Palm Beach County. The family was driving a 2023 Ford Explorer, owned by Payless Car Rental, and was on their way to Palm Beach International Airport to return the vehicle.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report confirmed the SUV was traveling westbound when it approached a hazardous curve, leading the driver to lose control. The vehicle struck a metal beam guardrail and entered a canal, flipping onto its roof.
The lawsuit claims a crucial warning sign indicating the sharp turn had been missing for over a year and was later found obscured by vegetation at the crash site. It describes Hatton Highway as a poorly maintained road with numerous sharp curves, missing signs, and a history of accidents—26 crashes in the mile surrounding the incident and 19 at the same curve.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.