Highway 97 Closed Four Hours After Wreck; One Person Injured

November 22, 2009

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(Updated with names) A five-mile stretch of Highway 97 was closed for about four hours Sunday morning due to a single vehicle accident.

The accident happened at the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 164 about 6:30. The driver of a 1977 Ford Thunderbird, Anthony McWilliams, 22, of Bay Minette, lost control while headed northbound on Highway 97. He traveled about 250 feet on shoulder before striking a power pole. The impact broke the pole, and sent power lines down across Highway 97 and Highway 164.

McWilliams and his passenger, William Lewis, 22, of Bay Minette, were transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital with minor injuries. McWilliams was charged with careless driving by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Highway 97 was closed from Highway 99A at Ernest Ward Middle School to Highway 4 in Davisville due to the wreck. Drivers were detoured onto Highway 99A, Highway 99 and Highway 4. Highway 164 was also closed. All of the roadways were reopened at about 10:30 a.m.

Several dozen Escambia River Electric Cooperative customers were without power for about four hours as a result of the accident..

Pictured above and below: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident on Highway 97 Sunday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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Comments

16 Responses to “Highway 97 Closed Four Hours After Wreck; One Person Injured”

  1. i dunno on November 25th, 2009 5:03 am

    Is the “PHANTOM” back again……

  2. me on November 23rd, 2009 7:48 pm

    Gotta love a well built car !! If this would have been a compact car !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. A.W. THOMPSON on November 23rd, 2009 4:45 pm

    ITS CHRISTINE AND SHES STILL ALIVE.MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN SAY FOR THE SERVICE POLE.BIG GIRL LIKE THAT BRINGS A GOOD PRICE AT THE CRUSHER.REAL METAL WENT INTO CARS FROM THIS ERA UNLIKE THE PLASTIC TRASH BUILT TODAY.A.W. THOMPSON,MOSQUITO FLATS, FLORIDA

  4. Gobblez on November 23rd, 2009 8:28 am

    Dang, looks like it was a clean ol T-Bird too. It did its job though, protected the idiot driver.

  5. Jim Stanton on November 22nd, 2009 10:56 pm

    There are some real idiots that drive on this particular road for some reason. Like the one in the Dodge pickup truck that passed me a few years ago near Howell road. I was in a loaded dump truck going south at 55-60 mph when he passed me. Apparently he was going to pass me that morning no matter what, because when he pulled out from behind me, I was meeting a gravel truck. He came right on and passed me just as we met the gravel truck. I got as far to the right as possible and the gravel truck did the same giving him just enough room to go between us. I’ve put a lot of miles in on a lot of roads, 97 seems to have more than it’s fair share of idiots on it, and the number of accidents on it seem to support this. The road itself is not that bad, it’s wide with several long straight stretches on it.

  6. Walt on November 22nd, 2009 8:48 pm

    Dang NASCAR WANNABEES!

  7. me on November 22nd, 2009 7:53 pm

    I tell my son everytime he walks out the door to watch out for idiots(other people)

  8. interested reader on November 22nd, 2009 7:28 pm

    Why am I not surprised! The RACE TRACK known as Hwy. 97 is an accident waiting to happen. I know at least 12 people have been killed on it in the past 10 years. I don’t know the answer to the problem but Maybe when they start repaving everyone will have to slow down. Driving the speeed limit is dangerous because people pass in nopassing areas on a regular basis. It will just get worse until we have some patrols up here daily. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Value of life is so important and I implore people to slow down and pay attention to the road.

  9. JKS on November 22nd, 2009 5:13 pm

    Hwy 97 is so dangerous and now with it being repaved for the next 10 months, it’s going to get worse. I also drive the speed limit and worry when the person behind me is riding my bumper; taking chances when they can’t stand it anymore and fly past me when it’s not the place to do it!

  10. Northend drop-out on November 22nd, 2009 3:11 pm

    How can the state troopers work the highway, when basically all they do is go from one wreck to another. You know you see a state trooper you slow down and as soon as you are out of sight you speed up again…..then what happens, you get careless.

    Sometimes, we have to talk to our friends and neighbors and ask them to please slow down and be careful. Again stay off the cell phones, pay attention to your driving – drive for yourself and the other person. Don’t drive sleepy…..don’t talk to others — light cigarettes– play with the radio, etc.

  11. BAJ on November 22nd, 2009 2:30 pm

    I agree there are way to many foolish speeders out there,,, a little 4 cylinder does not have a chance. I would love to see more State Troopers out there as they are unforgiving and will give you a ticket

  12. Northend drop-out on November 22nd, 2009 12:15 pm

    How about everyone slowing down a little when it is raining………does this not make sense for all the wrecks listed on this site this morning. I was one that was without electricity from 6:21 until 11:00 a.m. this morning….The other day someone was wanting the FHP to work traffic…… look at the wrecks they are working….hours and hours of paper work….for the insurance companies. Someone killed at any wreck one trooper spends at least 3 days on one wreck, plus the first trooper and his paper work. Yes, I agree everyone needs to take Drivers Ed ASAP – slow down and stay off cell phones…..

  13. Cynical on November 22nd, 2009 11:10 am

    People get angry when I drive the speed limit.

    I would like it a lot if everybody would just slow down a bit.

    It ain’t worth dying for to be 5 minutes early getting there.

  14. bill on November 22nd, 2009 8:54 am

    Wow wrecks and more wrecks.

  15. wow on November 22nd, 2009 8:48 am

    It was rainin so hard last night. I was in that location around the same time. I did not see the car accident, but I was trying to be so careful; therefore, I dont get into a car accident. Everyone was driving so fast.

  16. guest on November 22nd, 2009 8:48 am

    People up here in the North end need to re-take Drivers Education asap. It is obvious that they can’t drive with all of these wrecks they are having.

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