8 church members killed in van crash mourned at funeral

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) - Eight members of a Haitian church are being mourned at a funeral service Fort Pierce.

The victims were among 18 members of the Independent Haitian Assembly of God who were returning from a Palm Sunday service in Fort Myers when their overloaded van plunged into a ravine on a dark stretch of rural roadway.

The funeral Saturday will be followed by burials at White City Cemetery. The eight victims, including the 58-year-old driver, were all originally from Haiti and were long-time members of the congregation.

The church's pastor was among 10 injured in the crash. The Tribune in Fort Pierce reports (http://bit.ly/1CYBU9S ) that two survivors remain hospitalized.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of the 15-passenger van.

Information from: The (Fort Pierce, Fla.) Tribune, http://www.stluciecounty.com

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