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Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Wreck On Nine Mile Road
August 18, 2012
An Escambia County man has been charged with DUI manslaughter after an early Saturday morning wreck on Nine Mile Road that left one man dead and woman in critical condition.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 28-year old Skylar Clint Davis of Pensacola was traveling east in the westbound lane of Nine Mile Road at Northminster Lane in a 2003 Chevrolet 1500 when he topped the crest of a hill and struck a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier head-on.
The driver of the Cavalier, 57-year old Russell George Sheppard of Pensacola, was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle, 24-year old Kathryn Elizabeth Sheppard of Pensacola was critically injured and transported to Sacred Heart Hospital.
Davis was transported to West Florida Hospital where he was treated and released into the custody of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Davis was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI serious bodily injuries and DUI property damage. He was booked into the Escambia County jail with bond set at $115,000.
Comments
48 Responses to “Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter After Fatal Wreck On Nine Mile Road”
Kat, I’m so glad your okay. I am so sorry for your loss darlin. I’m pretty sure you have everyones prayers (: but mine also. Love ya!
Such a horrible story for everyone involved. Skyler is personally known to me and he is such a wonderful person. My heart goes out to everyone involved.
I know Skylar personally and when I heard this news my heart sank to my knees. He is a good person, and I agree that he will be harder on himself than the court will ever be. Skylar will have to live with this bad decision forever and he will regret every day he is on this earth. My heartfelt sympathies and many prayers go out to the family of the deceased, Slylar, and his family as well.
REGARDING:
“Why do people continue to drink and drive?”
People drive after drinking because drinking shuts down judgment, just like all the other crimes committed under the excuse, “I was drunk at the time.”
Potheads, on the other hand, tend to get more paranoid and are less likely to drive after messing up THEIR brains.
David contemplating the lesser of two evils
(defined as that which kills fewer others)
To Mr. Saget,
First of all, huge fan. You’re stand up comedy is legendary. Too bad AFV toned you down for prime time TV. All joking aside, people don’t drink at home because it’s a social drug. That’s right, I said it, social DRUG. Drinking at home leads to drinking alone, which leads to alcoholism, which then leads you to AA if you still have a brain, liver, and at least 1 kidney left. If none of those remain, then it leads you 6 feet under the cold, hard ground. Those who disagree with this argument will also be the ones who say that pot smoking leads to cocaine use, which leads you to meth, which leads you to heroin, which leads you to the grave. Funny how it’s the same argument, just twisted to suit their needs. Great, now I made all of us sound like politicians. Sorry, again.
What I don’t understand is why not just drink within the confines of your own home? Seriously? Asking for responsibility while drinking is like asking someone to be responsible with a razor blade when slitting their wrist. Keep it home, it’s cheaper, safer, and the only place you have to drive is to your bed! It’s too late for that now but I had a buddy who’s dad ended up getting a DUI when I thought, Oh it won’t happen to me. Just seeing what he had to go through, it’s not even CLOSE to being worth the gamble!
I have always promoted personal responsibility. The problem is that after you’ve had a few drinks, responsibility goes out the window for most folks. That’s why I made my suggestion. The establishments aren’t the ones causing problems with their drink promotions, and I don’t believe in limiting how much one can or should drink. The fact of the matter is that it has become a social problem. One in which a program like I mentioned could save lives without interfering in your fun and enjoyable evening. I wonder if there are some bars in town who would pay a small fee per month into a pool that would pay the drivers of taxis to come get the drunks, deliver them with their keys safely home, and they could get their car tomorrow. . No one gets killed, no one gets a DUI, and everyone is happy. Some places already offer shuttles, but only go as far north as 10 Mile Road. I know, I sound like a politician and for that I apologize.
I’m all for personal responsibility but people who choose to drink and drive are not responsible people. Therefore the people serving them do bear some of the responsibilty for selling them drinks when they know full well they are about to get in their vehicle and drive. Aiding and abetting. Limit the amount of alcohol that a patron can consume in a certain time frame. Like I said before it might not completly solve the problem but I bet it would help. If someone thinks its “pathetic” to hold a bartender or a bar partly responsible for serving a drunk driver I suggest you talk to a victim or a deceased victims family and see how they feel about it.
My thoughts and payers to all involved in this tragedy.
Alcohol is not the problem, just as bars, cars, cell phones, guns, knives, bombs, drugs, etc. are not the problem.
The problem is that people do stupid things with inanimate objects and no amount of restrictions, laws, programs, interventions etc. will stop people from this type of distructive behavior.
Be responsible and set personal limits for yourself. If you are going to drive only have one or two. If you can’t stop drinking after one or two then you shouldn’t drink anything until you’ve quenched your spiritual thirst. It’s easy for the soul to confuse the two.
How can someone say that a bar is not at some fault. I have seen bartenders serve people who were obviously too drunk….They don’t care as long as the person is paying…Having said that…I have seen bartenders refuse to serve someone who is drunk….Happy Hours, Ladies night, drink and drown, nickel beer night all of these promotions encourage people to drink…..Some states have outlawed such promotions…I don’t know if this has any affect on DUI”s but it’s a start…..No one should be allowed to leave an establishment and get in a car if the bar knows they are drunk…and don’t give me that “we are not trained to tell if someone is drunk”…if you have been serving them all night you know they are drunk….Maybe if the bar is held accountable some of these folks would be cut off way earlier than they are and not be allowed to drive…..
Obviously some of u dont get how ignorant u sound…. firstly it is not the place of a business to be your babysitter… secondly they do have a program to get thosento drunk to drive home safely…. thirdly no one gets into a vehicle drunk sayimg im going to kill some one tonight so obviously its not premeditated murder…. if u are goimg to give your opinion at least let it be an intelligent one. The families involved have my prayers as does the man who caused the wreck…. eceryone makes bad decisions and judt because the ones u have made havent killed anyone doesnt mean they werent bad decisions…. if this man is human at all he will live the rest of his life knowing that he killed someone with his bad decision….. i personally am not going to add my condemnation to that guilt…. judge and you shall be judged folks… but as for this mess of skmone else keeing u from driving drunk…. thats ridiculous grow up and take responsibility for yourself…. and stop relying on everyone else to fix a problem that your irresponsibility causes!!
Sane has said the smartest opinnion here. Sorry about the loss to the family. Its not an issue if your , Texting, talking on the phone, Putting on make up, Reading something, To old to drive, etc & kill some one by accident. Just drinking. Its a shame someone got behind the wheel drunk. Its not a problem if your so tired & fall asleep & kill someone. No one attacks then, Doesnt even make the news. Again, Sorry for the familys loss. Taxi cabs should be at every bar taking them home free if needed. Wont ever happen. No money can be made that way. No lawyers fees, No leagle fines. Just ask The AD council on how we should be.
Sane, Finnaly someone making some sense of this. If Fla was smart . Bars would not let drunk people drive out of it. taxi’s should offer free rides home if your beyond driving. There’s so many ways to attack the issue besides jail & fines. But that wont make the state or lawyers any money . Thats what its all about. if your to tore up to drive. Dont . But driving while on the phone , Texting, Putting on makeup, Falling asleep , Rubbernecking, To old, all is ok even if u kill someone.
Our prayers go out to the Sheppard family and we hope that Kathryn recovers fully very soon. This is so tragic. May God give you comfort in the rough days ahead.
We knew Skylar when he was in high school and he was a very nice, respectful young man. I am in “no way” defending his actions, I believe it is never right to drink and drive. But, I am also praying for Skylar and his family as well as the Sheppard family, because my heart tells me the Lord would not want him to be forgotten because of his decision to drink and drive.
Skylar will do his time for this, do doubt. But, if he asks the Lord for forgiveness, the Lord WILL forgive him, according to His word.
God Bless everyone involved
This is sad I know Skiler very well he made a mistake .. Just the same as texting and driving .. How many people making comments on here have use their phone wile driving .. He did wrong .. I know this will haunt him for ever .. And their is not any way to make up for it … He will punish his self worse than anyone or any court .. He is not some old sorry drunk .. He works 6 and 7 days a week always has .. Skiler I’m sorry .. And the people that lost love ones I very sorry for y’all too … I’m saying sorry for Skiler …
well if a store sells alcohol to a drunk and they get into an accident the store is responsible for that yet either way he’s at fault but whatever people can point fingers wherever they want society isn’t the only thing going down the drain majority of the world is…
tragic though I feel sorry for the lady who lost her husband and for the girl who is in critical.
so sorry for the family i also got hit by a guy that had 9 DUIS its bull when is our country gonna do something about it instead of slapping them on the wrist…….my prayers are with the family
Why do people continue to drink and drive? — Because somewhere in their minds they believe they are sober enough to drive. In addition, they believe the deadly accidents happen to other people.
What a shame!
Someone will read this article and will make a conscious decision to drink and drive drunk today.
…for all those who are so pathetic to fault the businesses that serve the alcohol as part of the culprit in people’s personal decision to get drunk…stop pointing your fingers to someone else…start taking your own responsibility…i think this is the main reason why this society is going down the drain…
This is nobody’s fault but the fool getting in their vehicle and driving drunk.it is premeditated murder.you know you could kill yourself or someone else when you get drunk and drive.stay out of the bars if you don’t want trouble drink it is their job to serve you beer.it’s you’re responsibility to say no I’m not driving.grow up people.
Yes..Skylar is a very good man. I know he is heartbroken over this. Goes to show you..no one is immune to tragic mistakes. It only takes a second to change the course of your life and others under right/wrong circumstances.
It’s a shame when anyone loses their life over another ones fault..
I would like to see the same anger when it’s someone on a cellphone as when they’re drunk..this “It was an accident” just doesn’t cut it.. Everybody should be responsible for their actions.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the bars need to be held accountable, with all there happy hour crap just to make a few extra bucks. These places just keep pushing the alcohol until people are so intoxicated it is pathetic. I have seen too many establishments do this and if they put someone outside the bar doors with a machine that you have to blow into this could prevent alot of this. If they are so drunk make them get a cab or call the police no other options . Too many lives messed up because of alcohol.
Skylar is a friend of mine. And a good person. Just made a bad call. He is sorry 4 what he done. No dout in my mine he will be harder on himself than the courts will be. We all make mistakes, some just end up hurting other people.
Establishments that serve alcohol should not be aloud to let intoxicated patrons leave and expose the public to these drunks that they create .I hope they find where he was and close it down and take everything from them,but that will never replace what was lost.
I THINK ANY ONE WHO KILLS ANOTHER WHILE DRINKING OR DRUGGING SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER !!! THEY KNOW THEY ARE TAKING THAT CHANCE BY DRIVING !!! I QUIT THE DRINKING AND DRUGGING OVER 30 YEARS AGO , AND I THANK GOD FOR NEVER HAVING A WRECK , BUT IF I WOULD OF KILLED SOME ONE DRINKING OR DRUGGING I SHOULD OF BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER ALSO !!! MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES OF BOTH !!
I think there should be a limit to how much a person should be allowed to purchase in a twenty-four hour period. Say a two drink maximum at the bar. No more than a six pack a day at the store, a half pint at the liquor store. When you purchase alcohol you show your I.D. It goes into a data base that keeps track of the amount you have purchased in that time period. When it is exceded you can’t buy anymore. Not to say this would completely solve the problem but I think it would help. Sounds expensive, invasive and complicated right. I agree but how expensive is it to bury the dead, treat the injured, prosecute the guilty, sue the guilty. Not to mention consoling the ones left behind. I thank God everyday that I never killed anyone or shamed my family with a D.U.I. I certainly would have deserved. I’m glad I wised up and quit drinking.
No doubt this was a needless death and injury but all of this throwing around “drunk” etc. isn’t exactly the case. Look folks, alcohol is and always will be around and was around before cars were in existence. The taboo that has been put on drinking and driving may have an impact on a few but probably not many so why not think out of the box. I am okay with someone taking the keys at the door..but in exchange I think it would be awesome to have pre-arranged transportation made before making the first drink, just in case you stick around too long. Not everyone that drinks and drives is a drunk..and lord knows bad things happen to good people, on both sides of the coin. Prepaid and pre-arranged transportation puts can benefit both the business and the customer..the business gets someone to stick around and the customer get’s home safe.
I hate to see people dying over something like this but to throw names around as you are really isn’t going to solve anything. My guess is that he feels pretty bad right now and realistically..what are you going to change now. Make changes for the future and maybe we can finally limit these driving situations.
Kat you are loved and being prayed for as well as your family
NOTE:
He most likely didn’t set out with the intention of killing anyone.
Those who drink and drive don’t intend to kill.
Many of them drink many times without driving or killing.
But they still kill and kill and kill.
David for better choices
and fewer regrets and sorrows
…well, thank goodness we are getting the drunks off the roads one at a time…these dangerous, self absorbed, drunken idiots need to understand that there are reprecussions to their actions…and decisions…this man, decided to drink and drive…this man made a decision to put other peoples lives in danger…this man decided that he doesnt care about anyone but himself…this man made the decision to put his family in shame…this man, decided to end someones life…prayer will do no good for this man and his family…karma eventually will…and i guess in this case…caught with him…who knows how many times he did drove drunk…and didnt get caught…well…he got caught…and took a life…i sure hope he can live with that…im sure if i run into him in the future…i’ll keep reminding him…
Alcohol is just as bad as illegal drugs. Maybe even worse, since it’s so easy to get. If the penalties for drinking and driving don’t get any stiffer, there is absolutely no incentive for others to stop drinking and driving. Drunks don’t believe it will happen UNTIL it happens.
Wow! What a sad situation!! I’m praying for all involved. Even Skylar!!
My Prayers go out to both families. I pray that the HOLY GHOST will provide comfort to the family thatlost their loved one. I pray that they will find peace and find a way to deal with this situation together as a family and be there to support one another. The man who was driving while drinking I also pray for him and his family. He does need to pay for what he has done, but he also deserves prayer and mercy. I pray that GOD will grant him the ability to deal with this in his mind and work through the reality of what he has done, and that he be able to come out of this with a understanding and testimony of what can so easily happen by making the wrong choices. May GOD bless you all.
My deepest condolences to the Sheppard family. I have no doubt Mr. Sheppard was a good man. I hope young Kathryn Elizabeth recovers soon. Drunks don’t think before they get behind the wheel, and no law can ever prevent this from happening. The only advice I can offer those who drink is to dial 433-3333. If you tell them your too drunk to drive, they will come get you and take you home safely. Maybe one day bars and/or other places that serve alcohol will start a program where keys can be collected at the door upon entering. Then once you’re ready to go, a sober person can call you a cab to take you home, and your keys will be readily available the next morning. I personally would like that and I think it’s something the community would support. A cab fare is far better than what Mr. Davis is about to go through. I hope he learns from his mistake. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with the Sheppards.
Sorry and regret wont bring back the one he killed, another example of one choosing to drink and drive …put this drunk away for 30 or 40 years. Bet you right now there are drunks sitting in bars all over this town talking about this accident who will get loaded and get behind the wheel. Revoking licenses and stiff fines dont work…put them in prison for a minimum of 15 years, first dui…
The man who was killed is the husband of a very dear co-worker of mine who is absolutely wonderful. It is so heart wrenching to hear of this. Praying for you and your daughter, Jan.
I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. For years I have wondered why our government officials don’t go after the alcohol industry like they do the tobacco industry. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol. So many innocent people are killed daily by drunk or intoxicated drivers.
Nothing good happens after midnight.
Amazes me that people think they can drink and drive. I work with grown “men”, in their 50’s who brag about how “tore up” they got…and how they weren’t sure they’d make it home…and they LAUGH about it.
GROW UP People…your actions do affect others.
Sad sad story for all parties involved. My prayers to the families of both parties.
Just looking at this guys mug shot. I wonder what the deceased families photo would look like this morning. He looks almost like he offended thats he’s in jail.
I saw this last night right after it happened, I immediately said a prayer because it looked awful. I pulled over to see if I could do anything, another gentleman had already pulled over too. We stayed and waited for everybody to get there. Mr. Sheppard, I hope you rest in peace & to his family I am terriibly sorry for your loss and Kathryn is in my prayers as well.
I saw this last night right after it happened, I immediately said a prayer because it looked awful. I pulled over to see if I could do anything, another gentleman had already pulled over too. We stayed and waited for everybody to get there. Mr. Sheppard, I hope you rest in peace & to his family I am terriibly sorry for your loss.
This is so sad. I’m so sorry for everyone involved. I really wish people would THINK before they go out, get wasted and drive. Now there are 2 families suffering because 1 person made a really stupid decision. It breaks my heart. 1 young life gonna be wasted sittin in prison, and 1 life tragically taken…
My deepest thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the Sheppard family. There are no words anyone of the Davis’s family or friends could possibly say that would take the pain from the Sheppard family. I pray that Mr. Davis owns up to his offense and pleads guilty.
Oh my goodness, my daughter and I had just came through this intersection minutes before this accident. I am wondering if this DUI driver came from Chans on 9 Mile Road. I noticed Chans to be full of patrons as we passed by. Terrible, just terrible.
jan, always know you and your daughter are in my prayers, thoughts and heart.
jan; i am praying for you and your daughter. i am just so sorry for your loss. you are in all my prayers.