6 injured, 1-year-old found dead after rollover crash on Alligator Alley

A search and rescue dive team was deployed Thursday afternoon after an infant went missing following a rollover crash involving seven people in west Broward County.

UPDATE: Officials say they no longer believe the child is alive and they have switched to a search and recovery effort. https://t.co/TDEpBdhsdh

— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) September 3, 2020

Six people were injured, including three children, and a 1-year-old boy was found dead after a pickup truck rolled after blowing a tire, according to rescue crews and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene along the eastbound lanes of I-75, near mile marker 28, around 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

“The call came in for an overturned vehicle with seven passengers who were injured, as well as a 1-year-old that was possibly ejected from the vehicle,” BSFR Chief Michael Kane said in a phone interview.

FHP confirmed the 1-year-old’s death just after 8:30 p.m.

WSVN 7Skyforce HD hovered over the crash site where crews could be seen searching the water with an airboat, searching the nearby area with heat-seeking technology, walking near the vehicle on foot, and divers could be seen in the water, as well.

“Given the type of rollover accident that occurred here, we don’t expect that the child would be too far from the vehicle,” Kane said. “From where the vehicle is resting, they are operating and working within close proximity to that vehicle. The expectation is if the child was ejected, the child is going to be within a pretty close distance from the vehicle.”

Some of the rescue crews assisting BSFR in their search for the child included Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Sunrise Fire Rescue and City of Weston Fire Rescue.

“We’ve got about 20 assets currently on the scene of this incident,” Kane said. “We’re searching from the air with our helicopters. We’re searching from the ground with our ground assets, as well as with our K-9 search dog that’s on scene.”

Rescue crews transferred their mission from a search and rescue operation to a search and recovery at around 6 p.m.

Paramedics transported at least three people to Broward Health Medical Center. Officials said three others got out of the vehicle OK and were walking around after the crash. It does not appear any of their injuries are life-threatening, officials said.

Three other children – ages 10, 8 and 4 – were in the vehicle and all had minor injuries. Three adults – ages 56, 33 and 31 – were treated for more serious injuries but will be OK.

Authorities shut down the eastbound lanes of the interstate to land an air rescue helicopter.

WSVN 7News cameras captured a diver who needed medical attention being put in the back of an ambulance.

A tow truck arrived on the scene to lift the truck out of the marsh.