One Dead, 16 Injured In Broward Church Van Crash

One woman was killed and sixteen people are hospitalized after a passenger van carrying a Deerfield Beach church spun out of control on the Florida Turnpike Saturday night.

The group, believed to be from Saint's Sanctuary Alliance Church on North Dixie Highway, was about 54 miles south of Orlando when the van swerved and spun counterclockwise in the road before overturning and colliding with a guardrail.

A second church van following behind with 15 people on board was not involved in the crash. The group was heading home to South Florida after a day at Universal Studio.

68-year-old Paulette Noel was partially ejected from the vehicle and prounounced dead at the scene. The driver, 49-year-old Jocelyn Jean Giles, and two other adult passengers suffered serious injuries.

Altogether, the sixteen surviving passengers were rushed to 7 different hospitals in four counties. Six of the injured are children between five and 13.

Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol said all on board the van were wearing seatbelts. The crash is still under investigation.

Leave Comments