Highway Worker Struck And Killed On Highway 29; Century Woman Seriously Injured

April 6, 2018

A highway worker was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday afternoon on Highway 29 near Siglar Road, north of McDavid.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 60-year old Sharon Odom of Century was southbound on Highway 29 when her 2006 Ford Mustang traveled off the roadway onto the west shoulder, colliding with worker Maceo A. Perkins, 41, of Pensacola and an unoccupied Dodge Ram truck that was off the roadway.

Odom was trapped in her vehicle and was extricated by firefighters before being  airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. Perkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.

All charges are pending the outcome of a traffic homicide investigation, according to FHP.

Perkins reportedly worked for Broadspectrum, a contractor for the Florida Department of Transportation. FDOT was unable to provide information late Friday afternoon on the nature of the work being performed.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.



Comments

29 Responses to “Highway Worker Struck And Killed On Highway 29; Century Woman Seriously Injured”

  1. Road worker mom on April 9th, 2018 8:03 pm

    Please watch our for road crews slow down when you approach workers move to the other lane this just might save my son’s life and yours too

  2. odo1114 on April 9th, 2018 6:43 pm

    People need to know what they are talking about before they just assume they know everything i see alot of accusations on here but no final report from law enforcement….

  3. Carl on April 9th, 2018 2:13 pm

    @Stumpknocker, I am not sure why you addressed me in your post. The subject being discussed is people that work beside the roadways being struck by vehicles. Of course there are more Law Enforcement Officers killed every year in the line of duty than Tow Truck Operators. I was citing an article from the fb page, ” Wall of The Fallen” in which it refers to Tow Truck Operators killed on the beside the highway, not by guns, knives or by Felons intentionally killing them in whatever way.

  4. Laquinda Perkins on April 8th, 2018 5:32 am

    Why! Sharon you took my soulmate, best friend the only thing I had here. Because you were in a rush for death of an innocent man! He loved me so much and we didn’t get a chance to say good bye. Why were you in a hurry, why were you speeding near construction workers! What wascso important??? You took my husnand away from me and he was only 41. What will I do Sharon!!! If you were driving with care my husband would be home with me and I would be resting peacefully.

  5. M. Jones on April 7th, 2018 7:39 pm

    The worker killed was our good friend. He and his wife hadn’t been in Florida a year.
    His wife is lost with out him. She needs prayers!!!!! Our hearts and prayers are with her.
    God ease her pain.

  6. Stumpknocker on April 7th, 2018 7:02 pm

    @Carl,
    In the line of duty for law enforcement 2016, 143 deaths
    2017, 128 death, alomost half of these numbers are officers gunned down. There is a web site Officer Down Memorial Page, sign up so every time one dies you get an alert on your phone, I think it will make most Americans sick to read the story and learn what a sacrifice these officers make every day and the ones left behind. When at war you have a idea of who or what wants to eliminate you, police officers don’t have that advantage and had to play by much stricter rules of engagement.

  7. Carl on April 7th, 2018 4:56 pm

    Across the U.S., an average of 60 tow truck operators are killed each year while performing their job on our highways. That’s more than Police, Fire and EMS combined.

  8. Rebecca S Johnson on April 7th, 2018 12:22 pm

    Sending prayers out to all involved. This also makes me sick to my stomach and saddens my heart. Although we don’t know all the details and can only speculate there are many different reasons why this accident may have occurred. My first thought was possibly Ms. Odom suffered a medical condition. Also I don’t understand why people need to be told over and over again. Maybe drivers education should be tougher and refresher courses made mandatory. I believe over time people forget the rules of the road. We need a special team of law enforcement out there enforcing these rules, there is a lot of ticketing money to be made out there. My biggest pet peeve is seeing driving in inclement weather with no headlights on. In my short fifteen minute commute I experience one to three near misses nearly every day and that’s just way too much. Please remember driving is a privilege that can be taken away.

  9. Vera on April 7th, 2018 11:55 am

    This is so sad my condolences to the man’s family and friends.My prayers go out to everyone involved and their families.

  10. Coworker on April 7th, 2018 11:24 am

    He was a good man! Only been with us a few months , we’re all like family , and its hard on all of us to see this happen! Rip bro!

  11. Pamela Dotson Ferguson on April 7th, 2018 10:43 am

    Maceo was my nephew and May he Rest In Peace. He will be be missed but we know that God love him more. Bless my family in this time of sorrow.

  12. Just move on April 7th, 2018 10:20 am

    Thoughts and prayers are with both families. Come on tho people these men have been working here for months. I cant tell you how many times ive seen cars pass these guys in the lane closes to them when they could have MOVED over. These man are trying to earn a living and provide for there family. So why cant we do our part and help keep them safe by moving over to the other lane when you see someone working. Or at least slow way down if you cant get over. From one worker to another Fly High Partner Fly High.

  13. Sidney Howard on April 7th, 2018 8:58 am

    I named him. Maceo is my son.

  14. Teasha kennedy on April 7th, 2018 8:43 am

    Please keep my family in prayer that was my cousin’s husband that got killed she was a very sweet person and a loving husband he will truly be missed

  15. Stumpknocker on April 7th, 2018 8:20 am

    Yeah you can see the roof buckled and also look at center top of windshield it’s pulled away from the roof line. That was a hard hit to cause this much damage just very blessed it wasn’t two people pronounced at the scene. I have no idea what caused this accident but I do know that motorists speed past these construction zones , some won’t even move over to the far lane, so we should all be mindful and police ourselves on our driving habits and don’t be angry when you get a ticket for $800 plus dollars and that should be everyone’s least worry, life should always be number one.

  16. Christian Simmons on April 6th, 2018 11:56 pm

    Maceo was my brother in law he will be truly missed! My sister life will never be the same! Prayers needed for both families!

  17. Shirley Banks on April 6th, 2018 11:16 pm

    This is my sister son, She is not taking this well.

  18. Carl on April 6th, 2018 11:10 pm

    DG, as I look at the Mustang I see serious damage. First notice that the fender was peeled forward, ripped completely loose from the Hinge Pillar and cowl. Notice the Left Door mirror laying inside on the dash. Now look at the roof line. Compare the right and left sides and you will see the left (drivers) side is buckled from the impact. It would take a serious impact to do that damage. I would assume the first responders ripped the door on off.

  19. William on April 6th, 2018 10:34 pm

    >>Please look at the damage sustained by the mustang. The article says Odom The article says Odom was airlifted, meaning that she must have had a medical episode that caused her to run off the road. Use your eyes, people.

    “Odom was trapped in her vehicle and was extricated by firefighters before being airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries.”

    The driver’s side of the Mustang suffered significant damage, trapping her in the vehicle. It’s just hard to tell that in the photos….it was not possible to climb the embankment and photograph it because of the traffic homicide investigation. (Not to say that she did or did not suffer a medical condition.)

  20. Beulah Girl on April 6th, 2018 10:32 pm

    Same thing happened to my grandpa when he was only 57. A guy got impatient and well my grandpa has been gone for 17 years now almost. The guy barely got a slap on the wrist. I know he has to live with the guilt but that still doesn’t change anything. My grandpa isn’t here enjoying his great-granddaughter. People watch these men and women working the road construction. Nothing is worth taking someone from their family.

  21. DG on April 6th, 2018 10:27 pm

    To those who believe this was the cause of negligent driving:

    Please look at the damage sustained by the mustang. The article says Odom was airlifted, meaning that she must have had a medical episode that caused her to run off the road.
    Use your eyes, people.

  22. Road worker mom on April 6th, 2018 9:16 pm

    Stop being distracted when you are driving!! That’s my child on the side of the road trying to keep the roads maintained for your safety!! Respect their safety!! Thank God my child was not there today. Slow down and pay attention or park your car until you can focus.

  23. EMD on April 6th, 2018 8:20 pm

    I don’t even know the names of those involved, and it still breaks my heart.

  24. Tina on April 6th, 2018 7:25 pm

    Thank you NorthEscambia.com for always having our local news first! This is the first place I look when I want to see what is going on in our Cantonment neighborhood. We have to many tragic wrecks on Hwy 29. I am so sorry to hear of this news today. We have so much road construction going on in Escambia County and the Hwy 29 area. The workers are brave souls working so close to the road. My heart felt thoughts and condolences go out to all involved and their families

  25. Charlotte on April 6th, 2018 6:31 pm

    This makes me so sad and sick to my stomach. Praying for all involved.

  26. Willis on April 6th, 2018 4:49 pm

    So sad.
    These folks are just trying to do their job and go home to their families at the end of the day.

    Prayers for the workers family and the driver of the vehicle.

  27. Beth on April 6th, 2018 4:30 pm

    This is so horrible to hear-my prayers for all involved. I’m not sure of the circumstances of this accident, but I’d just like to remind drivers to please slow down in construction zones.

  28. Jan on April 6th, 2018 4:03 pm

    How sad! This hwy with traffic and construction and speed! ☹️

  29. Rob on April 6th, 2018 3:44 pm

    So that must be where all the troopers were headed earlier north on 29. Prayers go out to all involved and their families