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Cantonment Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter In Death Of Atmore Woman
December 23, 2015
A Cantonment woman has been charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with the Friday night traffic death of a retired teacher from Atmore.
Debra Marlene Ahearn, 52, was booked into the Escambia County Jail today on charges brought by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to court documents, Ahearn’s initial blood alcohol level was .291 — over three and half times the legal limit.
According to the FHP, Ahearn was traveling southbound in a 2006 Town and Country van on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road when she made a turn directly into the path of a northbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 56-year old John Edward Ryland of Atmore. The Tahoe was then struck by a northbound Chevrolet Cobalt driven by 21-year old Dontavious Rashwn Anderson of Cantonment.
A passenger in the Tahoe, 61-year old Barbara M. Ryland of Atmore, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where she was pronounced deceased shortly after the 6:11 pm. crash. The driver of the Tahoe, John Ryland, was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
Ahearn was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital where she treated and later released., while Anderson was taken to West Florida Hospital with minor injuries.
Barbara Ryland was not wearing a seat belt, according to a FHP report; everyone else involved in the crash was properly restrained.
Barbara Ryland was a retired teacher with 30 years of service to the Escambia County (FL) School District. She continued as a substitute teacher following her retirement.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Cantonment Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter In Death Of Atmore Woman”
Our grandson was one of the drivers that was struck in this accident. His life was affected by this accident, as all ours were. So very sorry that someone lost their life because of someone’s drinking and then driving. This is one of the lessons we’ve always try to instill in our grandchildren, PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. Unfortunately this lesson was shown to him first hand by someone else and the devastating effects it can have when you get behind the wheel….you’re not the only one affected.
My daughter works at a Chinese restaurant were ahearn stopped before the crash. My daughter called the cops while she was their and told them that this woman was very drunk and almost hit another woman in the parking lot. She never got a call back nor did the cops show up. Maybe this could have been presented if law inforcement took action.
I’m so sorry for the loss of such a kind person. She was my teacher in 5th. grade. She taught me to correctly tell time and to play a game called 7UP that I have always remembered. People have always said good things about her, not just because something has happened to her, but because she really was an inspiration to many of us that she taught and touched. When I first saw this, I was shocked, it took a while to truly set in with me. I do want to ask everyone for something: FROM NOW ON, NO MATTER WHO IT IS, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE SWERVING OR SEEMING WRECKLESS ON THE ROADS, CALL THE POLICE, THIS TRAGEDY CANT BE CHANGED NOW, BUT WE CAN HOPEFULLY CHANGE FUTURE TRAGEDIES BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE HURT AND WE WILL REPORT WHAT WE SEE ON THE ROADS. I always have. I’ve offered my services if needed if anyone finds themselves in the situation of needing a sober driver, and please don’t ever think you have to ride with someone who is intoxicated, there are other options, I’ve always told people, especially young people I know, if you cant get to me, get one of my friends until I can get to you or get a police officer to help you. Mrs. Ryland has touched so many people in life and even with her passing, she will still be touching people because her death has brought so much awareness to the cause of drinking and driving. Please, help keep our roads safe and report what you see, I will do the same, you never know, it could be your own family or friends that you end up protecting. Many prayers to the McKay and Ryland families. I am so truly sorry for your loss and to all the students, friends, and aquaintances that love and miss her as well, I am so truly sorry for your loss. God Bless You all.
Life can change with every breath we take. And it does
So very sorry to hear this news. I knew this family well, what a loss, this woman ( Barbara ) was such a blessing to everyone she touched. I will be praying for her family .
Her first offense.
She will get a lesser penalty then if she had stolen a junker car.
Barbara was my big sister, my hero, a very best friend. She was the kindest, smartest, funniest, most loving person you can imagine. She taught for more than 30 years (as did my Mama, Daddy, three sisters, and me) and was loved beyond measure by students, parents, co-workers, friends, and family. She was to host our first family Christmas since my mother died earlier this year. Our lives will never be the same. The world has lost a bright, shining star whose heart was almost too big for this world. Senseless, tragic, and a completely broken-hearted family left behind…
After the first swallow , your ability to make good decisions goes down, including when to stop drinking and whether or not you are capable of driving safely, how fast you should go, if there are hazards around, if you can turn without killing anyone. Quite often the next day you don’t remember a thing about it. (If you don’t remember the past, you can’t improve your future.) You can decide whether or not to take that first drink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David.for.better.decisions.and.fewer.regrets
She was a wonderful lady and my sons teacher in the 5th grade at Bryneville Elementary School. Such a terrible waste………..don’t drink and drive <3
2 lives gone because of a bad decision to drink and drive.
Unfortunately, people who drink and drive don’t care about others or even themselves. All Drunks can “handle” it, until something like this happens. Tragic and sad that someone had to die because of her drinking. Also, sad for her family who will have to live with it and possibly feel like they could/should have prevented it.
But, Mrs. Ryland NOT wearing her seatbelt has made me realize that I need to wear mine ALL the time, because you never know. Hopefully, she has inspired others to do the same.
Isnt it amazing how in every story u hear like this that the DRUNK is NEVER EVER the one who gets killed or even injured!?
How sad especially here at Christmas! The penalties for drunk driving should be a lot more severe.
There is never a deadlier or more selfish choice while driving than to do so while impaired or distracted. My prayers to all involved, for the lives forever changed and for a woman who loved her drunkenness more than the lives of others.
Fed up with this bull. She took a life at almost 4 times the legal limit. Enjoy the next 20 year in the state pen. Let this be a lesson. Make her an example!
This is so sad that such a wonderful teachers life was lost because of someone’s decision to drink and drive.
This is so sad. People, please, don’t drink and drive.