Jay Man Charged After Wreck That Backed Up Traffic Across Bay

April 28, 2012

A Jay resident is facing charges after slamming into a parked truck, backing up traffic during rush hour across Escambia Bay Friday afternoon.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 57-year old Robert Leslie Mezza was eastbound on Highway 90 about half mile west of Woodbine Road when he ran his 2003 GMC van off the road and into an unoccupied 1997 Dodge Dakota pickup that was parked on the shoulder.

The impact of the 4:30 p.m. crash sent the pickup into the wood line along the highway. Mezza’s van continued eastbound, hit a guardrail and overturned onto its side across the eastbound lanes of Highway 90.

Mezza was charged with careless driving and driving while license suspended/revoked.

Pictured: The back of a parked pickup truck that was rear-ended by a Jay man Friday afternoon. Photo by Wayne Bolton, Jr. for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

10 Responses to “Jay Man Charged After Wreck That Backed Up Traffic Across Bay”

  1. bk63 on April 29th, 2012 10:35 pm

    If this is a privelidge having a dl, Why not when u renew it get a deal on the insurance & the tag @ the same time good for the whole time your dl is? Privelidged that it is. There’s u a law to initiate. Wont happen, everyone couldnt screw everyone out of money. All them stupid mistakes like a tail light bulb, expired this but not that, technical violations, cracked whatever. Routine stops to find whatever. Its all about money, the state of Fla wants it. lawyers want it. We just pay & pay. The leagal system today is CRIMINAL. Owning a car & driving legally Is highway robbery. Oh, Forgot. All arrested for all these little infractions are tied up forever in probation, etc. To make more money. I dont remember the past like this is today.

  2. Mic Hall on April 29th, 2012 6:34 pm

    Driving IS a privilege that almost everyone can have and keep until they are to old to drive. IF they obey the laws. I don’t know of ANYONE that has lost their driving privileged that obeyed the law. DON’T SPEED (the big one), get drunk and drive, aggressive drive (tailgate or weaving in and out of traffic – usually also speeding), stop having insurance, not keep your tag up to date, … Pretty much if you don’t do stupid you can keep your license.

    If you can’t obey the laws enough to keep your license I HOPE YOU DON’T DRIVE. Driving is dangerous enough already when everyone DOES obey the laws. We have enough lousy drivers already on the road without adding those that can’t figure out how to obey the traffic laws.

  3. bk63 on April 29th, 2012 11:52 am

    If driving is a privelidge as everyone says, How come you have to do it to get to work. How come u have to drive to have an average job ? Unless u live in the city where the bus runs or u ride a bicycle. Driving licences are an expensive part of our life. Getting higher by the day. Its a shame that such a priveledge cost so much. Only problem is that everyone that rides the bus rides our tax base that the State of Florida seems to do also. People who drive cars around Leagally are paying thru the nose. Yes , You have to be insured to drive. Is insurance a privelidge? Nope , You by law have to have it. If one day there’s a world where we can take a train or trolly to work, That would be a privelige. Retiring will be a privelige. Wont ever happen. Some come on here commenting about everything & everyone. Life was so much better for yall. We all wish we were as good a people as you all are.

  4. JM on April 29th, 2012 8:23 am

    They need to thow the book at this guy. No license means no insurance so
    who is supposed to pay for this mess? This guy should have to do complete
    restitution to everyone involved and sit in jail at night till it is all paid.

  5. Brian on April 28th, 2012 9:04 pm

    Driving is a privilege.

  6. bk 63 on April 28th, 2012 6:54 pm

    Your drivers license can get suspended over alot of petty things without notifying the person. Get off your soapboxes & stop attacking someone over an accident.

  7. mary on April 28th, 2012 6:45 pm

    right or wrong ..some just cant afford to to pay for what ever reason thier license what suspended! I cant afford to get all the “documents” needed for a dang Fl. ID!

  8. bigbill1961 on April 28th, 2012 4:43 pm

    Mick is right. As long as there are no “real” repercussions, these people will continue to push their luck, and keep on pushing until they kill themselves or someone else. If you drive while your license is suspended or revoked, you’re basically thumbing your nose to law enforcement and our judicial system. Mandatory jail time for each and every offense of this type is the only thing these people will understand.

  9. Terri Sanders on April 28th, 2012 11:05 am

    Looks like the owner of the pick up truck won’t have to figure out why it quit running!Glad no one was in the truck.

  10. mick on April 28th, 2012 9:12 am

    Perfect example of a person’s total disregard for the law… driving with a suspended/revoked license… this is just one instance of some of the stories you have covered where people are going to do what they want regardless of the law… put him in jail for a long time