Latest Headlines
- Two Century Correctional Officers Charged With Smuggling Drugs Into The Prison
- More Details Released In Case Of Man Accused Of Killing Estranged Wife
- Early Morning Stabbing In Cantonment Under Investigation
- Escambia School Grades Released. See How Your Child’s School Scored.
- No Serious Injuries In Cantonment Highway 29 Crash
- Bond Set For Cottage Hill Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Local Magistrate
- Driver’s License Driving Exams Available Saturday, August 3 During Special Event
- Escambia Man Charged With Killing Wife, Dog
- Man Killed In Head-On Crash With Dump Truck Near Atmore
- Blue Wahoos Blanked By Strong Pitching As Shuckers Even Series
No Charges In DOC Van Wreck That Killed Inmate From Escambia County
September 27, 2013
Lawrence Houze, 50, was killed when the Department of Corrections van he was riding in flipped into a ditch in Okaloosa County on the way to a scheduled work detail in Milton.
The crash occurred when the van was turning from P.J. Adams Road from Highway 85 and a vehicle driven by Joshua Meseke pulled in front of the van, causing the van to lose control and flip over into a ditch on July 12. The driver of the van was a Department of Corrections officer and six inmates were on board. The officer and five remaining inmates were transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center where they were treated and released. All were wearing their seat belts.
The State Attorney’s Office said there is not enough evidence in the case against Meseke to prove vehicular homicide.
The driver of the van was a Department of Corrections officer and six inmates were on board. The officer and five remaining inmates were transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center were they were treated and released. All were wearing their seat belts.
Houze was a minimum security inmate at the Okaloosa Work Camp in Crestview. He was scheduled for release in August 2014.
Comments
3 Responses to “No Charges In DOC Van Wreck That Killed Inmate From Escambia County”
REGARDING:
“of course it wont be investigated deeper becaise it was an inmate who was killed and law enforcement dont care about them”
And if so, yet another good reason to avoid doing things which could result in being in the care of the penal system.
Really, though, we don’t know how closely they looked. Other than our suspicious minds, we could imagine them looking at the intersection, considering the possibly top-heavy condition of the vehicle, how far into the turn the vehicle already was, possible slope of road or sand on road, possible ditch too steep.
And even if not, there could have been many things the driver did wrong or less than perfectly and still not justify charging him with a crime. It’s only our prejudice which could make us doubt their findings.
David for staying out of
Department of Corrections vans
in the first place
Actually, since vans are top heavy they roll easily upon making a sharp manuever, even at relatively slow rates of speed. Such as a driver might make when dodging someone who pulls out in front of them unexpectedly. And law enforcement does care about inmates, otherwise they wouldnt be doing that job. Lets just accept it that stuff happens and quit trying to place blame. It was a tragedy. A man died. Could have been much worse, all six inmates and the officer driving could have died.
this dont make sense to me. the prison van was turning and another ca turned in front of him. ok if the van was turning from road to road he wouldbhave beenat a slowrate of speed to make the turn. and a car turned in front of him even if the driver ofthe prison van was slow enough to make the turn and turn the whee wuickly to avoid collision it should t have rolled. sounds to me like some sort of coer up as the driver of the prison van was most likely turning at a high rate of speed to cause the va to roll. in my point i dont think a car tirning i. front of them caused this ant it needs to be deeply investigated. of course it wont be investigated deeper becaise it was an inmate who was killed and law enforcement dont care about them