By Kevin Deutsch
Authorities have identified the man killed when he drove a construction dump truck into a Parkland canal Monday.
Jeffrey Seraphin, 24, of Belle Glade, drove the truck into the water around 10:30 a.m. outside a construction site near 15490 Loxahatchee Road in what authorities are calling an “industrial accident,” according to a press release issued by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Tuesday.
BSO’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the accident, which set off a frantic search for Seraphin by Coral Springs Fire Rescue and BSO Dive Team members.
They eventually pulled the deceased driver from the water.
According to investigators, Seraphin was driving a Caterpillar dump truck and traveling west within the construction site, south of 15490 Loxahatchee Road, when the accident was set in motion.
Seraphin was reversing toward a man-made canal to dump a load of dirt and mud and reversed “past the point of safety,” leading the truck to slip back into the water, the press release states.
He was able to exit the truck and tried to swim to shore. But he was unable to swim to safety and ultimately drowned, according to BSO.
Coral Springs Fire Rescue pronounced Seraphin dead at the scene.
According to the agency, BSO Traffic Homicide detectives were notified and continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
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