Man loses his life after vehicle crashes into canal in unincorporated area of western Broward County

Broward County, Florida – A man was killed in a tragic single-vehicle crash after his SUV veered off the road and ended up submerged in a canal in unincorporated western Broward County late Wednesday night, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).

The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on July 23 near the 18000 block of Krome Avenue, a remote stretch of road in the county’s westernmost region. The Broward County Regional Communications center received a report of a vehicle in the water, prompting a large-scale response from multiple BSO units.

Deputies from the Weston district were first to arrive on the scene. Given the nature of the call, additional resources were quickly requested, including the BSO Dive Team, Marine Patrol, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Unit, and detectives from the Missing Persons Unit. Upon arrival, crews discovered a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe submerged in the canal. However, there were no visible signs of anyone inside or near the vehicle at the time.

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Efforts to search the area continued into the night, but it wasn’t until early the next morning that the victim was found. According to BSO, a family member of the driver, identified as Ramiro Gomez-Diaz, returned to the location around daybreak and spotted a body in the water. Deputies were immediately dispatched to the scene again, and the body of Gomez-Diaz was recovered from the canal. He was pronounced deceased.

BSO’s Traffic Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation. Early findings suggest that for reasons still under investigation, the SUV veered off the roadway and into the canal. Detectives at the scene observed tire tracks that led directly to the water’s edge. A vehicle bumper and headlight were also recovered from the canal, which helped confirm that the submerged SUV had been involved in the crash.

No other vehicles are believed to have been involved, and no additional injuries were reported.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are working to determine what caused the driver to leave the roadway,” the Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

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Krome Avenue, also known as State Road 997, is known for being dark and relatively isolated, with long stretches that lack lighting or barriers near water bodies, making it a potentially hazardous area, especially at night.

Authorities have not released any further information regarding the events leading up to the crash, and it remains unclear whether speed, mechanical failure, or a medical episode played a role.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information to come forward as the investigation continues.