FHP: Passengers were not wearing seat belts in deadly church van crash

MOORE HAVEN, Fla.- Passengers in a deadly church van crash were not wearing seat belts, a new report released by the Florida Highway Patrol shows.

The group of 18 was driving back to Fort Pierce after taking part in Palm Sunday services in Fort Myers.

Troopers say the driver ran a stop sign at State Road 78 and U.S. 27 in Moore Haven, crashing into a canal.

The FHP report says only the driver and the front passenger were wearing seat belts. Both died along with six other people. The remaining 10 passengers were injured.

The investigation also showed the seat belts were not bolted to the floor, so passengers couldn’t have used them even if they wanted to.

Troopers say the driver was at fault in the crash when he ran through the stop sign. Because the driver died in the crash, no one will face charges.