Mom, dad and son die after car is submerged off Sawgrass Expressway

A father, mother and their son were killed after being trapped in a submerged car that veered into a pond just off the Sawgrass Expressway in Deerfield Beach.

Boby Mathew was driving a 2006 Honda Accord with one of his sons and his wife when he lost control of his car as he turned onto the ramp to Florida’s Turnpike, investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The car drove onto the unpaved inside shoulder of the ramp before plunging into the water about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, FHP said.

Mathew, 47, and his wife Dolly Mathew, 41, and their son Steve Manoj, 16, all of Coral Springs, were killed, FHP said.

Mathew’s older son, who is a young adult, was not in the car, family friends said.

Mathew was an agent with Keller Williams Realty in Coral Springs for about two years.

“He lights up a room with his personality and his friendship,” said John Dietz, his team manager. “I can’t imagine if he had any enemies because this is the kind of guy everybody liked.”

Mathew’s colleague, Ed Kies, said the family was very involved in their Indian church.

“Boby was an awesome man of God,” Kies said. “He loved, loved his family, he loved his church, he was an incredibly hard worker.”

Relatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Divers from three fire departments worked to free the trapped family, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.

All three were extricated from the Honda and taken to Broward Health North Medical Center. Two were pronounced dead on arrival and the third died later, officials said.

The fatal crash is still being investigated, FHP said.