A Long Weekend: Four Killed, 13 Injured In North Escambia Area

June 25, 2008

The first weekend of summer will not be one that emergency responders in the area soon forget. In the span of less than 72 hours, four people died and at least 13 were injured in vehicle accidents and a structure fire in the North Escambia area.

The incidents are listed below in chronological order. Click any of the headings to read the latest NorthEscambia.com story about the incident.

Friday: Deputy Injured In Bratt

Escambia County Deputy David Ingram was injured when his cruiser hit a power pole in Bratt after he collided with a pickup truck driven by a local teen. He was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Saturday: Early Morning Fire Kills Molino Man

A Molino man died in an early morning fire Saturday, unable to escape from his burning travel trailer.

The fire destroyed the small travel trailer about 2:00 Saturday morning on McKinnonville Street.

The victim was identified by neighbors as James White, who lived alone in the travel trailer.

Saturday: Flomaton Teen Dies In Byrneville Fiery Byrneville Wreck

A Flomaton teen died Saturday in a fiery single vehicle accident in Byrneville.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Cody Ray Gafford, 16, of Flomaton died in the crash (pictured top of page) about 12:45 Saturday afternoon.

Troopers say Gafford was traveling south on Byrneville Road at a high rate of speed when he ran off the road and began to spin. His1998 Ford Explorer rotated across the road and began to overturn. That’s when the driver’s side of the Explorer struck a large tree and flipped upside down. The vehicle then caught fire.

Gafford was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.

Saturday: Three Injured In Jay Accident

Three Jay residents were injured in a two vehicle accident at Highway 89 and Escambia Avenue in Jay Saturday afternoon.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Seth Raught, 18 and Jeremy Raught, 18, of Jay attempted to make a U-turn from the shoulder of Highway 89 when the 1999 Dodge driven by Seth Raught pulled into the path of an oncoming vehicle. That vehicle, a 2000 Dodge SUV, was driven by Dwayne Reaves, 45, of Jay. Reaves was unable to avoid hitting Raught’s vehicle in the driver’s side, the FHP says.

Seth Raught was taken by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he was listed in critical condition.

Seth Raught was not wearing his seat belt according to the FHP report. The other two parties were. Jeremy Raught received minor injuries in the incident and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital. The FHP report does not specify the extent of the injuries to Reaves, but it does state that he was transported to Jay Hospital.

Saturday: Cantonment Man Dies In Motorcycle Wreck, One Injured

A Cantonment man died in a one vehicle, one motorcycle accident Saturday night in Cantonment.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Robert P. McDonald, 49, of Cantonment died in the accident about 8:45 Saturday night at the intersection of Pine Forest Road and Graham Road.

Troopers say a 2004 Hyundai driven by Gabrielle N. Taite, 18, of Pensacola was traveling north on Pine Forest Road when she traveled into McDonald’s path. McDonald attempted to take evasive action, causing his motorcycle to overturn and strike Taite’s Hyundai.

McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger on the motorcycle, Carol E. McDonald, 50, of Cantonment, was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.

Sunday: Five, Including Two Children, Injured In Davisville Accident

Five people were injured, including two young children, in a two vehicle wreck just before 10:00 Sunday morning in Davisville.

The two children and two adults were in a small pickup truck that collided with another small pickup in front of the Family Dollar on Highway 97, just south of the Alabama state line. The second pickup overturned on its side. One person was trapped in that truck for about 15 minutes while firemen used the Jaws of Life to free her.

None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening, according to emergency personnel on the scene.

Monday: One Killed, Two Injured In Highway 29 Crash

The Florida Highway Patrol says Carolyn Hightower, 60, of Pensacola died just before 8:00 Monday night from injuries she received earlier in the day in a North Escambia accident.

The FHP said Richard D. Hightower, 63, and his passenger Carolyn Hightower, 60, of Pensacola were northbound on Highway 29 at Bluff Springs Road in the outside lane when a pickup truck driven by Floyd D. Calloway, 65, of Century pulled from Byrneville Road into their path about 8:20 Monday morning.

Calloway’s truck hit the rear of Hightower’s Chevrolet Blazer, causing it to rotate. Hightower was unable to control the SUV, and it rolled several times before coming to a stop upside in the northbound lanes of Highway 29 (pictured below), according to the highway patrol crash report.

Carolyn Hightower was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she later died. Richard Hightower was transported by a second LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition. Calloway was transported by ambulance to Jay Hospital with minor injuries. All three people were wearing their seatbelts.

NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News