Driver Charged After He Plows Through Highway 97 Cemetery Saturday Night

February 22, 2009

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A driver who said he was trying to avoid two deer on Highway 97 plowed through a Walnut Hill cemetery Saturday night, destroying about a dozen grave markers.

97-99_11.jpgThe Florida Highway Patrol says James Johnson, 39, of Pace was northbound on Highway 97 at North Highway 99 when he said he tried to avoid two deer in the road. Johnson missed a curve on Highway 97 and plowed across the cemetery at the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church at about 9:55 p.m.

Johnson was not injured in the accident. He was the only occupant of the vehicle.

Johnson’s Nissan 350Z went through a chain link fence, took down a row of hedge bushes and sent marble grave markers flying 75 feet across the cemetery. The Nissan flipped across a portion of the cemetery, coming to rest in an upright position against a fence and on top of graves at the opposite end of the cemetery. About a dozen grave markers were damaged or destroyed in the crash.

The FHP says Johnson was charged with careless driving.

Dozens of church members gathered at the church late Saturday night to survey the damage to family grave markers.

Click here for more exclusive photos from the scene.

Pictured: The driver of this Nissan 350Z was not injured when he plowed through a Highway 97 cemetery Saturday night. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Driver Charged After He Plows Through Highway 97 Cemetery Saturday Night”

  1. molino resident on February 26th, 2009 10:27 pm

    Unfortunately Hwy 97 is a very bad road for deer. I have found myself slowing down to 45 mph when going through definate deer crossings that I am aware of, but since the new casino is so popular right now I am afraid there will be a lot more of these accidents to follow. I just pray that God watches over the travelers of this road everyday and everynight.

    I have never personally seen a deer there, but I will not call anyone a liar. I have learned that all deer have minds of their own. You would think that an animal would bolt in the opposite direction of the headlights, but considering I have hit 2 deer mywself in the past 3 years I know from experience that you never know what they will do. My advise to everyone that travels this Hwy is to be careful and just drive at least the speed limit.

    I really think that the state needs to consider making 97 a four-lane hwy to help with the new traffic flow and to make the road safer. It may not help too much with the deer situation, but there are a lot more accidents happening on this road then in the past.

  2. concerned citizen on February 23rd, 2009 9:45 pm

    In Florida, if you do not hit the deer(for example) but swerve and wreck somehow you will be charged with careless driving and pay a fine. It is often better to hit whaterver you are trying to avoid therefore there is proof of what occured. It is very disconcerting to wreck your car to avoid another car or animal and find that you owe a fine for careless driving. however that is the case.

  3. concerned citizen on February 23rd, 2009 6:13 pm

    It is amazing to me how quick people are to judge others with NO information …and to give their advice! Kinda like an arm-chair quarterback, but much much worse.

  4. Deer Slayer!! on February 23rd, 2009 2:35 pm

    Just hit the deer for goodness sake!!!!!! I have hit several deer and the best thing to do is run over it. Swerving on the road is never the answer. One time I hit two deer and had my car in the shop for two week and the very day after I got my car out of the shop my husband hit another one in the same car. Yes, it cost me a thousand dollars that month to fix my car twice but no one was hurt……unless you count the deer!!

    From the looks of the pictures he would have been much better off and it would have been alot cheaper to just hit the deer!!

  5. dbg on February 23rd, 2009 10:03 am

    Why do some people think they have the right to comment on these articles and put in what they think happened. What on earth does the type of car he was driving have to do with anything? And no matter how long you’ve lived in the area and not seen a deer doesn’t mean there was’nt one.
    I guess the guy should have hit the deer, then everyone would be saying something about the dangers of all these deer running out into the road and how often they have had a near miss etc. instead of trying to imply something different happened.

  6. Rusty on February 23rd, 2009 9:42 am

    DDU, There are deer in this area! I was surprised with one as I turned off 99N onto southbound 97 on my way to work early Sunday morning. I thought the same thing, I had never seen a deer in that area. Was speed involved? Only Mr Johnson and his friend know that.

  7. D.D.U. on February 23rd, 2009 7:36 am

    We have lived here almost 30 years and have never seen a deer on this corner. I know you must keep your eyes on the road while making that curve or you can easily run off the road, but deer?? I don’t think so. That sounds like a randon excuse to me. Just glad he wasn’t hurt, except for his pride.

  8. Century Girl on February 22nd, 2009 4:04 pm

    Why is this “careless driving”? If he was going the speed limit, all you can do is try to dodge the deer if they run out in front of you etc. I don’t understand.

  9. Jay on February 22nd, 2009 2:46 pm

    350Z….Hmmm, deer? From the photos of the damage, it seems that the car was going a bit faster than 55 MPH.

  10. TD on February 22nd, 2009 2:12 pm

    Mr. Johnson is my friend and I was riding in the vehicle behind him at the time the accident occurred. It was horrifying to witness this accident and this miracle. That he was able to walk away without a scratch is nothing less than a miracle. To God be the glory.

    I also would like to acknowledge the great people that came out and offered assistance to Mr. Johnson and the group of us. I have to say that as disillusioned as we were and while waiting for the FHP people from the community were so kind and compassionate even after viewing the destruction of their family and friends grave sites.

    We truly thank you and are glad to know that such genuine kindness exist in the northern end of our county.

  11. Chris Maloney on February 22nd, 2009 7:29 am

    not injured… if he’s not a believer then he might want to start believing!

  12. E.M.D. on February 22nd, 2009 12:32 am

    Amazing!!! Not hurt? After all that? He must not have fufilled his purpose yet.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News