Fort Lauderdale man found dead in car recovered from Parkland canal after crash

A Fort Lauderdale man died Monday morning after crashing his car into a canal near a residential area in Parkland, which was discovered hours later, law enforcement officials said.

Dilton Florezel Lai, 51, was driving a 2021 Honda Accord northwest on Pine Island Road shortly before 5 a.m. and did not stop at the T-shaped intersection of Nob Hill Road, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. He drove over a curb, into the grass and into the water, for unknown reasons.

The Sheriff’s Office was notified about the car in the water about 11 a.m.  Sheriff’s Office’s and Coral Springs Fire Rescue’s divers found the car fully underwater near the 10900 block of Northwest 78th Place.

Coral Springs Fire Rescue’s Dive Team found the car and Lai inside, and the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered them. The Sheriff’s Office said its investigation is continuing.

Body found in submerged car in Parkland canal