Man Critically Injured In Nokomis Crash, His Dog Uninjured
August 29, 2019
A Bay Minette man was critically injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in extreme northwestern Escambia County just south of the Alabama-Florida state line.
Melvin Leonce Carpenter, 74, was northbound on North Pineville Road through a canopy of trees when for an unknown reason he traveled off the southbound shoulder and struck multiple trees, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Carpenter was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital, transferred to a medical helicopter and airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital. It was not known if he was wearing his seat belt.
Carpenter’s dog was also inside the vehicle and appeared not to be injured.
First responders from Escambia Fire Rescue, the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department and Atmore Fire Department also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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4 Responses to “Man Critically Injured In Nokomis Crash, His Dog Uninjured”
Melvin and I rode our horses together on the dirt roads and in the woods of Nokomis when we were boys. We swam in the creeks and played roughhouse games. Later, when Melvin got his driver’s license, we cruised the backroads and streets of Atmore together in Melvin’s little black 1950 Ford. Melvin idolized Robert Mitchem In The movie Thunder Road and he put a knob on his steering wheel and tried all the car stunts that Mitchem did in that movie. We did not know that Robert Mitchem had a stunt double. Melvin was fearless. He was three years older than me and I idolized him and loved him like a brother. He was my Fonzie. I have only seen Melvin Carpenter a couple of times since our boyhood days, but I am saddened by his passing. He represents an intimate part of my childhood memories growing up in Nokomis. For Melvin to die in a vehicle accident on a Nokomis road at age 74 seems strange. The way Melvin drove, I didn’t think he would make it past about 19.
My brother took the dog to their happy home, so she will be well cared for and love still by the family
We grew up together….hope he is o.k.
A minor miracle that the dog was unhurt! Pulling for the human!