WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Saturday night drive along one of Palm Beach County’s busiest corridors ended in fire, hospital transports, and the death of a child after a speeding SUV left the roadway and slammed into a concrete power pole on South Military Trail.
The crash happened shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 17th in the 2600 block of South Military Trail in unincorporated West Palm Beach, a stretch known for fast-moving traffic and frequent lane changes. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division, a 2017 Audi Q7 was traveling south in the left lane at a high rate of speed when the driver attempted to move right.
Investigators say the driver swerved to avoid a slower vehicle in the center lane and lost control.
That is when the SUV jumped the curb and continued south before striking a concrete power pole head-on. The impact lifted the rear of the vehicle off the ground and sent it rotating counterclockwise around the pole. The Audi came to rest on the sidewalk, facing west.
Moments later, the engine compartment caught fire.
All four occupants were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. One of the passengers, an 8-year-old child, was pronounced dead at the hospital just over an hour later. Two other children, ages 5 and 11, were hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver, a 38-year-old man from Margate, was also reported seriously injured.
The Traffic Division report lists the driver as not using safety equipment. One child was documented as wearing a seatbelt, while the other two were not, according to the report.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the crash, including speed, driving behavior, and whether impairment played a role; however, indicate that charges against the driver are pending.
Military Trail remained a focus for investigators as they documented the scene and vehicle damage. Fixed roadside objects such as power poles are a known danger in high-speed crashes, where even a brief loss of control can have catastrophic consequences.
The investigation is being handled by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division, which is responsible for reconstructing serious-injury and fatal crashes countywide. Findings from that investigation will determine whether criminal charges are filed and what form they take.
For residents who regularly drive Military Trail, the crash is a stark reminder of how quickly conditions can turn deadly on a roadway built for volume and speed. Updates in the case are expected as the investigation moves forward and the driver’s medical condition allows for further action.
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