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FHP: Cantonment Man Sets Off Chain Reaction Crash That Killed Two
June 14, 2013
A Cantonment man set off a chain reaction accident involving seven vehicles that left two people dead Thursday afternoon near Hurlburt Field’s main gate in Mary Ester, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
David Endresen, age 47 of Cantonment, was driving a 2006 box truck owned by McAleer’s Office Furniture westbound on Highway 98 approaching Cody Avenue about 1:25 p.m. Endresen failed to stop in time before rear-ending a 2008 Honda Element occupied Kurt Graetzer, 66, and Pamela Graetzer, 63, both of Bradenton, FL. Both Graetzers died in the crash.
The Honda Element was pushed into 2003 Ford F150 driven by Stephen Williams Of Gulf Breeze. The Honda Element was propelled into a 1997 Buick Labre, which in turn hit another Ford F150 that struck a 2004 GMC pickup. The five people in the four additional vehicles were transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center with minor injuries. A seventh vehicle was struck by a large piece of debris from the original crash; the three occupants were not injured.
Endresen and his passenger, 32-year old Desi Johnson of Pensacola, both received minor injuries in the Okaloosa County crash.
Charges against Endresen are pending the outcome of the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation.
Pictured: Two people died in this chain reaction seven-vehicle crash Thursday in Mary Ester. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
15 Responses to “FHP: Cantonment Man Sets Off Chain Reaction Crash That Killed Two”
I was there…just 2 car lengths ahead of the Graetzer’s car. No matter what they were in, their car was stopped…plain and simple…and when hit from the rear, a stopped vehicle will sustain a huge amount of damage. But the news report left out the fact that the box truck’s front wheels were on the roof of the Graetzer’s car. I saw it from my rearview mirror–it seemed to be a slow motion monster truck derby…the truck hit the car and the front of the truck went right up on top of the car. They never had a chance. It was horrendous…and I saw it happen & couldn’t do anything but pray. I definitely feel the driver was going faster than the speed limit…as well as being too distracted to see that the traffic was stopped.
Everyone needs to slow down and watch the signs. I knew Kurt from NY days – a really wonderful person. He and Pam were beacons of light and the world is a lesser place. It doesn’t matter what kind of car you drive and pointless to debate it. What is worth mentioning is that there needs to be a change in the way people operate motor vehicles. I see a much more aggressive style of driving today compared to when I was starting out – back in the late 60’s. Slow it down and stay alert. Put the phones down. Be aware of everything in front of and around you. So long, Kurt. You left us all wanting to be a bit more like you. Peace.
not even an armoured car hold up very well to the impact of the furniture truck,then the first F1550, then the second head on? F150…. seat belts,air bags makes no diff. in sardine cans…. each impact made a substancial diff. in vehicle structure…
There isn’t anything “Eco” about a Honda element. It is a smal SUV that gets mediocre gas mileage. Point taken about small though, especially in the land of big ole pickups.
Prayers for all involved and affected. May God comfort the family and friends of the Graetzers.
I read on an Okaloosa site, from an alleged responder in the accident, that the brakes failed on the McAleers’ truck. Let’s remember that the driver of that truck is one of our Cantonment residents and is most likely in turmoil tonight. How about we reserve judgments at this time, and leave it to just praying for all the parties involved.
The couple that were killed were very active in our community… they gave a lot of themselves in both family and friends. It is extremely sad to see such a senseless accident.
The skid marks appear to start after the debris from the accident. it was said the trunk never hit its brakes.
Pam and Kurt we will all miss you. God bless your family and friends.
Sandra and cw. You keep your smartcar and ill keep my american steel. Just an fyi airbags nor seatbelts help in an extreme rear end collision. I see smartcars at least 3 times a week (elements in particular) warped beyond recognition with passengers critically injured. Vehicles with more mass are much more likely to protect their occupants. On another note, the element was at a stop which means none of the airbags would have went off anyway. I can appreciate engineered steel supports but the real name of the car manufacturing game is mpg. And we all know heavy cars don’t do very well at the pumps.
Looking at the skid marks in the photo — and the extensive damage doen the the red pick-up ( a secondary vehicle in the collision) the box truck was moving at a significant speed prior to the impact. You can’t even see the Element — it’s somewhere in bewteen the box truck and the red pick-up… I wonder if texting while driving or some other distraction was involved. I expect that traffic was congested and had slowed — and the box truck hit the Element from behind at nearly full speed.
McAleer’s auto insurance company is going to have quite a large ($1 million plus) auto claim as a result of this collision. A good plantiff attorney may even go after McAleer’s General Liability and Employment Practices Liability carrier if they can prove negligent hiring, negligent training, or negligent supervision regarding the employee driver.
@Sniper
Those vehicles you mentioned didn’t have very good safety cages, the A-pillars and roof would have bowed and the car would’ve crumpled in the middle where the occupants were sitting. Today’s cars are safer.
We knew them from their days in NY. Our prayers and sympathies for the family. This is a horrific tragedy. They were a great couple and very good people. Very sad news…
@sniper actually sir the mechanism of injury in most accidents is the body colliding with the interior of the vehicle , hence “seatbelts save lives”. The vehicles that you mentioned had much less padding in their interiors than that of todays modern passenger cars. Go back in time and the risks are even higher due to metal dashboards and the like. Also, modern day vehicles now have crunch zones engineered into them to absorb most of the energy of a collision, further reducing injury to the occupants.
I am deeply saddened by the deaths but this is why my family will never drive an “eco-car” “smart-car” etc. Too many dangers of being on the road to be wrapped in sheet metal covering plastic. Imagine if all cars involved were 78 thunderbirds or 75 ck trucks.
My sincere condolence goes out to the family of the Graetzers. May God be with you during this difficult time.
Had he even slowed at all before hitting the Honda?