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Driver Trapped After Highway 97 Crash With 1,800 Pound Bull
December 1, 2009
One person was seriously injured in a collision with a 1,800 pound bull in Walnut Hill Monday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol says Jesse Croley, 77, of Pensacola, was southbound on Highway 97 about 7:30 p.m. when he struck a black bull on Highway 97 just past Arthur Brown Road. Croley’s Chevrolet Impala then left Highway 97 and continued about 100 yards into a cotton field.
Firefighters from the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue were forced to use the Jaws of Life to remove the roof on the car in order to free Croley from the wreckage. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital by Atmore Ambulance. LifeFlight was requested but was unable to respond to the scene due to weather.
The bull was severely injured in the crash and had to be put down.
The accident is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
For more exclusive NorthEscambia.com photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured above: Emergency personnel work to free a driver trapped in his car after a collision with an 1,800 pound bull Monday night in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The car came to rest in a cotton field about 100 yards from the point of impact. The roof of the Chevrolet Impala was removed in order to free the driver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
21 Responses to “Driver Trapped After Highway 97 Crash With 1,800 Pound Bull”
Our prayers are with Mr. Crowley. This should be a wake up call for our neighbor. He has four very large bramers that get out often and tears up our fruit trees and our yard. They are a problem to our neighbors, also. Seems there is not a thing we can do about them. We can shoot them if we catch them. They get out in the middle of the night. There ought to be a way.
There is a reason for the Good Lord looking out for Mr. Croley he is one of the finest God loving man I have had the true priveldge of knowing I wish for his speedy recovery and wish his family well I know they are by his side.
This was a very bad incident for Mr. Croley, the bull AND the bull owner… Mr. Croley is seriously hurt, the bull is dead, and the owner has lost an expensive head of livestock. Add in feeling bad about the wreck, and now having to face a likely civil suit, it was a bad day for all involved. I think I know where the bull probably came from, and if so, I guarantee it was penned very well, and an accident that it got out.
I also agree with the people who mentioned that if an 1,800 lb. bull decides it wants out, it’s getting out of almost any pen or fence.
First off “Dan”, take your smart comment elsewhere…..
Otherwise, as a friend of Mr. Croley, my prayers are with you and your family…
To those who say is was not negligence on cattle owner, it was either direct or indirect, not intentional. He can be held responsible, and like mentioned, his insurance will cover such accidents. The fact is an accident happened, and from what it seems we are lucky that the Good Lord was watching one of his children until the speedy response of EMS.
Let`s not be too critical of the bull`s owner. I grew up raising young bulls and cattle as a young boy. I can remember recieving calls that our bull was at a neigbor`s pasture seeking other heffers that was in season. We was fortunate that no one was ever hurt as we retrieved our bull. You can build any enclosure or pen to keek the huge bulls at bay, but they are very strong and can & will go anywhere as they wish. My only advice is that if you ever see cattle out of there enclosure to call the FHP and try to warn other drivers of the danger. A 1800 pound bull can and will go anywhere he sees an opportunity. This was a terrrible incident. Lets all remember that the farmers try to secure their high dollar live stock. It is not easy tending to huge creatures that are raised ultimately will be sent to Hardees or Mc Donalds.
Our family wants to thank the 911 callers and the Walnut Hill Fire and Rescue responders for their prompt respone , professionalizm, extraction and care, this saved his life. We are so blessed that he is still with us. God Bless you all. Please keep him and the family in your prayers, he is still hospitalized and has a long recovery.
To Northend, by your rational, if your yard-dog runs out into the highway because the cat scared him, and someone swerves to miss the dog and has a horrible accident, then you are saying that you would be held liable for everything correct. Because it is your dog (and you didnt have full control over him) that caused the accident. whoops cant call it an ACCIDENT because the dog did cause it. It is called an accident for a reason, know matter how bad it is, it is no ones fault.
Hey you know, maybe it was a coyote chasing the bull. So coyotes are property of the state so sue the state, which you are a taxpayer in the state, so lets just make it easy and sue you, even though you were not directly involved.
There are laws to prevent this kind of sue happy population. It is were willful neglect then you have every right to sue the landowner, but in this case it was not.
What if it had been a deer that caused the accident??? Sue the state again, or maybe the hunter that did not kill him that afternoon. Yada yada ya.
AS BRATT MAN SAID — IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!!!!!!!!
Most farmers carry liability insurance. A farm is a business just like running the corner grocery. The guy at the corner grocery worries about slip and fall injuries, etc., while the farmer with cattle worries that one will get out.
The statute someone copied below says ” intentionally, willfully, carelessly, or negligently”. I know this farmer. His fencing is probably about the best around. He would not meet the ” intentionally, willfully, carelessly, or negligently” clause. It’s not like it was tied up with a rope or something.
If something frightens a 1800 pound bull at night, no fence will stop it. Think about it. It weighs as much as some cars. If you floor your car into a cattle fence, will the car stop or go through the fence?
Cows don’t escape at night unless they are frightened and in panic mode.
Accidents happen. The farmer should have insurance. It’s not his fault, but that’s what insurance is for.
Pray for a speedy recovery for mr Croley.
Prayers to the Croley family and a very quick recovery.
FL. Statute 588.15 Liability of owner. Every owner of livestock who intentionally, willfully, carelessly, or negligently suffers or permits such livestock to run at large upon or stray upon the public roads of this state shall be liable in damages for all injury and property damage sustained by any person by reason thereof.
I drove through that section of 97 shortly after the accident as I was returning home from Atmore. EMS was already there working and doing what they do. (thank goodness for that) It looked to be a very serious accident. I hope this man recovers from the injuries. I too wonder about the “liability” of the livestock owner. this is very serious, a 1800lb black bull in the road at night in a section of road not very well lit is definately a hazard. this could have killed someone. There is now a family suffering in many ways from an accident that might have been able to be prevented. If anyone knows “facts” about the answer to the question of liability please post it. if nothing else perhaps some ideas of where to research to find the answer. In the mean time, I will keep this family in my prayers.
Yes “bleh”, I am also wondering that too.
Questions to anyone who knows, as many in this forum always have a response or comment, or at least a remark (albeit not always accepted or understood) as I do not know this answer.
If the person who owns livestock, that causes the pain and suffering Mr. Croley and his family must be going through….. are they responsible for his welfare, well being, financial loss, and everything that was incurred by the blatant irresponsibility for not properly securing your livestock within your farm?
My thoughts are with the Croley family, get well.
In conclusion, why is everyone so quiet on this topic? It’s a hoorrendous accident that you or your family members could experience, any day, at any time…..no excuse for negligence!
Wonder if the owner of the bull will be held responsible?
my thoughts and prayers are with the man and his family i hope he makes a speedy recover…glod bless
Good job to the professionals who responded. Looks like a clean extraction, hope the man is ok… certainly would not be if not for the crew from Walnut Hill!
Thanks for your service.
Mr. Croley was seriously injured and his family along with his grandchildren are devastated.. Please take the time to pray for his recovery and this family.
There is a time to joke, and a time not to joke.
Queenbee — No one reported seeing the animal prior to the accident.
And that’s no bull !!!
“Ground Beef” anyone?
Did anyone see the bull prior to this horrible incident and then contact the sheriffs dept? Was a livestock officer in route? The north end of the county has had it’s share of problems getting assistance for roaming livestock. I’m just wondering if this accident could have been avoided.
I drove by while this was going on. This car was WAY out in this cotton field. I hope the man is OK.
I can see how he hit it if it was is the road. The bull was by the road when I drove by and you could not hardley see it at all.