Photo by: NorthEscambia.com
Eight people were injured in a five-vehicle crash on Highway 97 Saturday afternoon, with the cause still under investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the crash, which occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. south of Ernest Ward Middle School, was caused by an 18-year-old Atmore man who “failed to maintain safe control of his vehicle.”
His SUV collided with a passenger van traveling south, then continued northbound, hitting three other southbound vehicles before overturning. The SUV driver was cited for careless driving.
Three people were critically injured, including an 8-year-old, and one person was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after being ejected.
The SUV driver and his 17-year-old female passenger, both from Atmore, were seriously injured.
The 63-year-old van driver and an 87-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries.
A 33-year-old Atmore woman received minor injuries, while her 8-year-old passenger was seriously injured.
A 30-year-old Uriah, Alabama man driving another car, was also seriously injured.
The Florida Highway Patrol report did not list the age or injuries of a fifth driver.
The crash scene extended over 450 feet, with debris scattered from two vehicles to the north and three to the south.
A Ford Expedition overturned, and the other vehicles sustained extensive damage.
The incident prompted a significant emergency response, with three medical helicopters, at least five ambulances, and four other EMS units, including supervisors, dispatched to the scene.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, numerous Florida Highway Patrol troopers, several Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer responded to the crash.
Highway 97 was closed for five hours, reopening around 9:30 p.m.
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Source: weartv
