3 dead, 1 critical after SUV plunges into lake

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A 20-year-old woman who survived a roadside accident that claimed three lives after their sport utility vehicle plunged into a lake is still in the hospital.

Friday morning Sandalie Jean-Baptiste was listed in extremely critical condition.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Jean-Baptiste and three relatives were coming back from shopping in Boca Raton when they collided with two other cars, at around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The driver of the SUV then veered off the road and into the lake following a multi-car crash. "All three vehicles were traveling southbound on I-95 just south of Hillsboro Boulevard," said FHP Sergeant Mark Wysocky.

Authorities said the accident sent the driver of a Lexus SUV plowing through a fence before landing in deep water, about 50 feet from shore. Then the vehicle started to sink.

Divers were able to recover the bodies of Nadege Theodore, 37, and her 16-year-old nephew Guivens Daverman. They did not find the body of Nadege's daughter Lynn, 15, until Thursday morning. "Unfortunately, you have a very short window from when it becomes a rescue operation to a recovery operation," said BSO spokesman Mike Jachles.

Jean-Baptiste is listed in extremely critical condition at Broward Health North Medical Center. She was resuscitated by Broward Fire Rescue crew while en route to the hospital.

Edmonde Emmanuel is devastated by the loss of her relatives. "I want to die. That's my sister, I grew up with her and that's my nephew and that's my godson," she said. "The last thing he said by 9:30 was I love you ly-lynn and I'm like OK im waiting for you when you get home."

Emmanuel suspected something was wrong late Wednesday night when they had not returned from their shopping trip. "By 11:30 I started looking all over for them, if they were walking or if anything happened," she said. "First I went to my sister's house to see if her car was parked there."

Thursday morning, police were still investigating what caused this fatal crash. "A lot of times vehicles are not going to sink immediately," said Wysocky. "They will stay up on top for a little while, so once we get into the investigation, we'll probably determine what happened."

Cachet Daley, a friend of one of the victims, reacted to the news in disbelief. "Very hardworking, and it's just sad: a mother losing her life and her daughter, and her daughter was beautiful, very young, but ... wow," she said.

Authorities are still investigating this accident. "It is too early to tell if speed or alcohol is a factor," said Wysocky.

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