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11-Year Old Boy Killed In Highway 97 Wreck; 9-Year Old Girl And Three Others Injured
October 4, 2020
A two-vehicle wreck Saturday morning south of Walnut Hill claimed the life a child and injured at least four others.
The crash happened on Highway 97 a mile south of Tungoil Road about 9:15 a.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 16-year old male from Molino was southbound on Highway 97 in a GMC Sierra pickup truck when he attempted to pass other traffic in a no passing zone. At the same time, a 43-year old male from Atmore driving a Mitsubishi Outlander was attempting to make a left turn into the driveway of a private residence.
The pickup truck slammed into the rear of the SUV, injuring all four occupants. An 11-year old boy was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The driver was transported by Escambia County EMS in critical condition. A 42-year old female passenger was airlifted by a second MedStar helicopter in critical condition. A 9-year old girl was transported by Escambia County EMS in serious condition. All occupants of the SUV were wearing their seat belts.
A 16-year old male passenger in the pickup truck was transported by Escambia County EMS to the hospital with minor injuries. The pickup driver was not injured.
Highway 97 was closed all day by the crash. The FHP is continuing their investigation.
The Florida Highway Patrol no longer releases the name of those involved in traffic crashes.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
107 Responses to “11-Year Old Boy Killed In Highway 97 Wreck; 9-Year Old Girl And Three Others Injured”
I personally think as parents you don’t need to give a 16 year old a truck that’s pushing 400 HP. You start them in a smaller vehicle so they can learn because trucks are way to much for a 16 year old. I’m sorry for the people that was involved. Lesson learned!
All is sad. However the boy broke the law and just like others who take the driving test agree to obey the law. Once the has been broken penalties are in order for wrong judgement. And people need to under what being charge for murder and manslangter. At the end the driver didnot intend for this to happen but it did. Sad situation on everyone involve exspecially the ones that has to live with it.
I’m so sorry for loss of this child and his family! Also the 16 yr old made his choice and chose his fate when he chose to drive recklessly!! We have laws for a reason!!
@Northview Student
Regardless of how nice the 16 yr old is, it is still a crime to pass in a no passing zone. This accident is a perfect example of why. You OBVIOUSLY are still to young to know that you are responsible for your actions. This boy killed someone due to his lack of judgment! Also please stay in school a while longer and study harder, especially grammar and English composition.
I know the guy personally he’s a great guy.. it just saddens me that all this has happened.. that little boy had his whole life ahead of him.. just to be taken unexpectedly and so quick.. I just turned 16, I won’t even pass in a passing zone.. I would rather be safe than sorry. Teenagers now a days don’t care about laws, they go as they want and don’t care who they hurt in the path.. I’m not saying the 16 year olds hit them on purpose cause he didn’t. He wasn’t even passing.. as of what I heard from close family and friends.. but there’s always two sides of the story you don’t know what true and what’s not. I just pray that they figure out what actually happened, and the little boy gets justices, and the 16 year learns what laws are.
Yes he needs to be charged with Murder, he took an child’s life there should be no pity at all tell it to the child that lost his life and the Mother that is fighting for her life , I said what I said point blank.this family has to go every day now with out their child and you want sympathy for the murder you do the crime do the time everyone else have too.
Retired Leo – The no passing lane is there because of the left turns off of the road. So the kid that decided to pass full speed in his huge truck across a solid yellow line will be tried for manslaughter because that is the charge when you do something illegal and reckless that results in KILLING another human being. Passing full speed in a huge truck in a no pass zone and saying you didn’t mean to kill anyone is like saying you fired bullets into a crowd but you didn’t mean for them to strike anyone. That defense doesn’t fly. Prison time for turning your vehicle into a killing machine.
This is so sad praying for both families new teenage drivers please slow down and obey road rules
Ok I’ve read alot of these comments and I just had to scroll down and leave a comment myself. Regardless of how old the boy is he should man up for his mistake. Nobody told him to do that, he’s old enough to know right and wrong, he obviously has his license so he knows the laws of driving but HE chose to break the law and look what happened he took a precious kids life and almost the rest of the family. If my kid was driving carelessly like that knowing the law and consequence of his action then he would answer to that. I mean if anyone on here has lost a child to someone else’s carelessness know what the right thing is. The boy driving that took a life should answer for his action and justice should be served for the 11 year old. My child got taken from me due to a careless driver and regardless of age wrong is wrong and justice should be served. The ones that know the 16 year old are saying he’s young and we have all made mistakes ok your right but regardless everyone still has to answer to it regardless of age. Making excuses for him is only going to hurt him in the end. Yea it’s sad cause he is young but look wrong is wrong and he should answer for it. Put yourself in the other family’s shoes yall know regardless of age you would want justice. If we dont teach our kids that when you do something wrong then you have to answer for what you did. Not tell them oh your young and you didn’t mean to your only telling them what they did was ok and then when it happens again then what? I’m sorry for everyone involved but justice should be served! Praying for the family and the loss of that little boy. So sorry yall are going through this but just remember from a mom to another stay strong for yourself and your family and you will see your boy again just like I’ll see my baby again. So very sorry and I’ll pray.
Bowhunter i know my cousin did a bad thing while driving and i very sorry for the 11 year old boy that did this was on him he cause the crash and he should be punish
Northview Student –
You know what kid won’t have a big future ahead of him? The one that was killed.
Think about that.
My heart goes out to the family who lost their son. I’m so sorry for your loss. I have had an opinion for years about 16 year olds getting their driver’s license, I think alot of them are not mature enough to be on the roads and have such a big responsibility. Alot of them drive fast, drink and drive and text. The age of someone getting a license should go up to at least until they are mature adults who take responsibility for their actions. That’s just my opinion.
@ Northview student i’m not judging anyone but the only one to destroy your cousin future was him he mashed the gas pedal no one else but i think the 11 year old had his whole future ahead of him and the way you worded your statement is let’s convict a skid row bum but not some up and coming teenager
My cousin should not deserve manslaughter he made a huge mistake for the action but u call a manslaughter on a kid that can have a big future and y’all want destory this future
Well, hopefully he gets charged with vehicular manslaughter at least. Otherwise, after all his friends and family convince him what he did was like missing a test question on a math exam, he’ll think that driving 80-85 passing multiple cars in a no passing zone where you can’t see down the hill is okay, until it kills someone… then it’s just a MISTAKE. Stating the obvious is not “judging.” A family loses their son, the mother is fighting for her life, and y’all are worried about the comments being too hard on the killer? Really, are you serious?
@Northview Student…please explain how? He made a bad decision that resulted in death. That’s manslaughter.
It was NOT an accident. An accident would imply it was caused by outside circumstances. The circumstance was his decision to pass when he should not have.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for the kid, but worse for the family that lost a child, and suffered numerous injuries. Who is going to pay for all those medical bills and loss of earnings?
Such a horrible, preventable tragedy. I feel so sorry for both families. The 16yo driver is absolutely at fault if he passed in a no passing zone. It’s marked that way for a reason. Unfortunately his bad decision cost a young child their life, whether he meant to do it or not. And by the way, it’s not an accident – it’s a crash. An accident infers that no one is at fault. The driver of the pickup truck was at fault for passing in a no passing zone. This should be a wake up call to all young drivers — you’re not invincible, the traffic rules apply to all, and there are consequences to bad decisions.
All the adults in the comments getting pressed over a mistake hes tramustised and im sure of that he will live with that for the rest of his life so all yall saying he needs to be charged with murder are no better then he is
To the ones who have said “Everybody has passed in a no passing zone at some time”
No. Everybody has not!
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS
No one does that anymore. There was a “choice” involved here. It appears the young man made a “choice” to pass in a non passing zone. It is no different than had he made the “choice” to have a few drinks and then go driving.
If this individual is “such a good person” as some are claiming, then he will take full responsibility for his actions. But let’s watch as this plays out.
Everyone laying judgement in the comment section remember your time will come on judgement day too. True tragedy praying for the little boy’s family
@ Northview Student:
Yep…. and he killed a human being… regardless of mechanism. Go back to your “safe place”
Highway 97 is a very dangerous road caused by speeders, tailgaters, and drivers who pass on yellow lines. Unfortunately another death, this time a 11 year old. So very sad. Prayers for all involved.
This road is so dangerous. I live in Atmore and work in Pensacola so I drive this road twice a day. I leave in the morning at 530am and traveling home on it around 445pm and EVERYDAY I get passed by speeders and tailgated. I drive 60 mph! I pray that the Florida Hwy Patrol or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Dept will start setting up speed traps on 97. They could earn the state of Florida thousands of dollars a month via speeding tickets and reckless driving. I pray for all that was involved, this was so senseless and could of been prevented.
If you are going to live in the country and commute to the city you had better learn to deal with the extra drive time involved in that. That seems to be a major problem with people that live out that way. I don’t use 97 very often, but if any of you wreck me you had better be prepared to Lawyer Up!
If that family takes everything that young man has and maybe some of his life….rightfully so!!!
It’s so sad what happened to 2 family’s. Praying for everyone. I don’t understand now days. When you were 14 through 17 . You had to be in the company of 1 of your license parents. So why was he in a new truck speeding 80 miles a hour. I wonder what was so important that he had to try and get there in 5 mins. I understand he may be a good kid. But Lord knows so was the other one who died, plus also was his mom dad and sister. There is really not excuse to drive that fast on a busy highway. If you need to get somewhere by a surent time please leave early and drive safely. Please don’t put other people lives in jeopardy and also yourselves. If 1 of his parents would have been in the truck with him he wouldn’t have been speeding and passing in all the busy traffic . but accident or not you still have to pay for the choices you make. No matter what age you are. Someone died and no matter how you look at it , it was your fault .My God be with each and everyone of you Amen.
It blows my mind how many people on here think he shouldn’t be charged with murder. If it was your 11 year old child you’d want the death penalty! These teenagers get let off the hook so easily now a days and I’m sure that’s why he felt like he didn’t have to abide by the traffic laws. He was in a no passing zone!!! He should not have passed somebody in a no passing zone. That’s not a mistake, it’s a choice! He knew he wasn’t supposed to and he did. Because he didn’t follow the traffic laws he took a innocent life so YES, he does need to be charged with murder. I don’t care if I know him in person or not, he did what he did so now he needs to take responsibility. With actions comes consequences. And from what I’ve read about him (public traffics records) he has a very long rap sheet when it comes to not following the traffic laws.
I know 16 year old personally.. I know he would never hurt someone on purpose .. some of y’all need to hear his side of what happen.. not just a news article.. this young boy is going to be living with the this the REST of his life.. his family is going to have to live with this! He would never hurt a child, or anyone. He cares for everyone! Yes, this was a crazy accident, yes it took a life, and yes it’s very sad.. but look at it this way, if you were in his shoes, and something like this happened to you (y’all were once a teenager, hard headed, Wanna have fun etc) y’all wouldn’t want folks on here blasting y’all on media.. heck I know I wouldn’t. Yes this little boy needs justices. I pray everyday he gets it. But the 16 year old also needs it. There’s no telling what’s going through his mind.. I know he shouldn’t have passed over couple lines.. EVERYONE has once done that.. it might’ve not ended like this did, you might’ve had a better outcome.. no one is perfect.. praying for everyone involved in this terrible accident!
All you saying he made a mistake, don’t judge, and it’s not that big of deal etc. etc. need your license taken too, because it shows you fail to see how serious this was. Yes, everyone makes mistakes… people get distracted, run a stop sign, and cause a wreck. But driving recklessly at a high speed, passing illegally is highly dangerous in any circumstance and puts other people’s lives at risk. This is not a “mistake”, it is a crime… it is no different than someone who chooses to get drunk and drive and ends up killing someone.
Why is all of the adults on here bad-mouthing a 16 year old,yes he made a mistake but we all make mistakes and yes this one did involve losing a life but he is going to have to deal with that for the rest of his life and he knows that he will never ever forget this day but that does not mean he should be charged with murder thats horrendous and taken way too far so to all of the parents and adults out here please stop talking bad about him because if that was your 16 year old child,grandchild,etc
.you would not be feeling and acting the same way you are about bashing a 16 year old.
Y’all need to stop judging him it ain’t like y’all are perfect and he don’t deserve to be in jail or prison cause it was a mistake it ain’t like he meant to do it and if y’all was not there y’all do not know what happened and most of y’all talking about him don’t even know him in person and if y’all did y’all know him would never purposely hurt a 11-year old child and all y’all talking behind a screen.
whether or not the innocent life was taken. the 16 year old boy didn’t mean to wreck the vehicle.
My heart breaks for the families involved in this tragic accident. It was an accident, there’s really no need to bad mouth this young man, he is a child himself & he will forever have to live with what happened. It is our responsibility as adults/parents to teach our children. Both families will forever be changed by this, so maybe we shouldn’t judge someone too harshly because they sinned differntly than we did. Just saying…
What is wrong with y’all, yes I feel awful for what happened to the family, but that gives y’all no reason to come on here bad mouthing a 16 year old boy. He should not have been speeding or passing on a double line but he is a new driver. He is a teenager, when y’all were teens I’m sure y’all weren’t thinking about half the crap y’all were doing. Yes he should pay for what he did but he doesn’t deserve all this bad mouthing, I go to school with him, he is a good kid that made a mistake.
These instances are always difficult for those involved. Lawyers and courts will be involved and someone will not be happy with the outcome. This could have been avoided by simply obeying traffic laws. As someone noted earlier, driving is a right not a priviledge.
An accident is when you are driving along and get a blow out, lose control and wreck, no fault of your own, it just happened. This was not an accident, it was gross negligence and vehicular homicide and it was preventable.
When a 16 year old gets his drivers license, one of the parents must sign saying they are responsible for the actions of the minor. Because this young man made poor decisions, not only is he facing man slaughter charges, but the parents can and probably will be sued. I’m sorry but passing on a double yellow line running 80 mph is NOT an accident. He made a decision to break the law, and that family lost their child. So coming on here saying it was an accident is wrong, instead you should be ashamed because you failed to teach your child the importance of a human life.
Irresponsible. Mr. 16yo…. You should be charged with the recklessness of your actions
people are saying “we’ve all done it” . No, we haven’t all done it! Good kid or not an innocent life was taken. I feel bad for all involved. I hope that ” good kid” asks God to forgive him. God can forgive any sin. That doesn’t mean you don’t have consequences to your actions.
I live on this road right down the road from the incident. People of all ages are always passing in the no passing zone on this road. I see 18 wheelers doing it. Passing school buses. It is a horrible road and people are so impatient and speeding. Breaks my heart that a child was taken and a child has to live with this. Please don’t be so judgmental on this teen. He will forever have to live with this. He is just a child. We all have made a decision that wasn’t right we just haven’t taken a life while doing it. Prayers for both families.
This was truly a SAD day for both families involved in this horrible accident. I agree with many other residents that lived in Molino and Walnut Hill area Hwy 97 is very dangerous for Adult drives most less a beginner driver. I was traveling Hwy 97 Today and again a SUV passed three cars first on 1 yellow line and than turned into a double yellow line. My first thought was here we go again. The passing vehicle was just in to big of a hurry and had no respect for other lives.
@ meatloaf, if the young man had not been breaking the law, then yes, you could call it an accident. But he made a bad call and took a young life, and injured 3 more members of the family. Willful neglect on his part does not justify making this and ” accident”. Sad for him and the innocent family that will never be the same. You would look at it from a different stand point if the shoe was on the other foot.
It’s very sad for both of these but saying ugly things will not bring him back. Yes it was wrong but we have all done it . I was in a car wreck 25 years ago I was trying to put on lipstick for work and raining and I hydroplaned because I saw a car coming my way. I jerked my wheel and God spR
Meatloaf you are incorrect sir. Everyone does not have accidents . This is vehicular manslaughter & the boy should be held accountable for his reckless behavior. Prayers to the family
this cannot be classified as an accident. the person passing in a no passing zone is a moron . no excuse for the death of an innocent person because you are too stupid to understand the rules of the road. this careless driver should spend the rest of his life in jail….. you can’t fix stupid
Not being judgmental but this kid was DRIVING like a bat out of hell and it killed a child… Yes that’s a fact .. Friend of mines witnessed it…. Now 16 is tooo young to have license.. They now are careless and immature….
some of you do not know this young man… he is a good kid… he just made a bad call. Don’t we all? He is now going to live with this for the rest of his life and none of us can imagine and the other family now have to deal with hospitals, court, and funeral expenses! It’s a terrible situation but I don’t think of the teenagers friends appreciate you coming on here bashing there friend. I know him personally and know he is a good kid with a good heart. Sometimes you make bad calls and it ends for the worst. Praying for everyone involved
All my prayers go’s out to this family from a close family friend
This incident was 100% preventable. If the the driver of the truck
obeyed the law and did not pass in a “NO PASSING” zone this story
would not be here.
Prayers for all involved!!!! Being a parent of a 16 year old that drives , this is my worst fear and phone call !!! No one meant for this happen and accidents happen and WE ALL ARE GUILTY of doing this , so no need to shame this child all over social media!!! WE ADULTS HERE AND WE ALL HAVE DONE WRONG AND HAVE BROKEN ALL LAWS WHILE DRIVING !!! I’m sure everyone of you have text ans drive , speed ans PASS IN A NO PASSING ZONE !!! We are human and we ALL make MISTAKES!!! No one is perfect
Very sad for both parties. You work hard to give your kids something nice because they are a great kid & then they disobey everything you’ve tried to teach them. Unfortunately, the parents will suffer the consequences for their 16 year old son that made an irresponsible life changing choice for two families.
Events like this will always happen until people are being held accountable for their driving. It isn’t careless, it’s willful and wanton. The penalty for taking a life should be harsh.
clearly people have no clue who the teenage boy is. he would have never wished this on anyone! i understand that the way he was driving was not okay in anyway, but everyone makes mistakes! please keep praying for both family’s involved in this horrible tragedy.
THIS IS A ACCIDENT!!! everyone once in a while has passed by somebody in a no passing zone so just stop being so judge-mental everyone has accidents!!
Seriously another young person driving when he thinks he knows it all..itjust killed an innocent child younger than him and injured other ppl probably fighting for their life all just cause of one of this kids stupid acrs… I think these teenagers should make a year of driving responsibly with a licensed driver then given that right to drive…he isn’t going to suffer like this family is…oh this brakes my heart.
Good people make bad mistakes and I’m sorry he chose to make that mistake at that particular time. However a life is gone. Who will be held accountable for their actions. This is sad for everyone involved . Especially the mom who is in critical condition . The sister that’s in stable condition. The father who had to tell his wife her baby didn’t make it. The brothers that will not see their brother anymore. People especially when our children have done wrong. We have to do what’s right. No matter the consequences. Praying for all families involved. And I pray all y’all do the same instead of trying to justify this as a accident.
I have a son that just got his learners and I’m already o him about what not to do and to watch out for other jackass People that can’t drive sorry for the lost of the child and for the 16 year old should be charged because u broke the law no passing mean no passing at all
Vehicular homicide. Driving is a privilege not a right. Decisions have consequences. He should be charged He took a life and changed many others. He needs to be held accountable.
@ Spooky
I disagree with you that this was an accident if you are driving and fail to obey the rules of the road like passing in a no passing zone it’s called reckless endangerment. I don’t believe this kid intended to hurt any one and if the other vehicle hadn’t been attempting to turn left and this kid had not attempted to pass none of this would have happened. I can’t imagine what both families are dealing with now. I do pray that God give them comfort and strength in dealing with this. I do hope the kid responsible for this has remorse and will be able to help others not do the same thing.
Awful tragedy. Most of us are guilty of doing something incredibly stupid in a vehicle at that age. and most of us got away with it. This kid did not. Prayers for all of them.
@Captain O
Wow.
Judgmental much? You don’t know this boy. Or his parents for that matter. He’s a great kid with wonderful parents. He’s never been coddled. They work for what they have. He’s never just handed anything.
Get off your high horse and pray for them. Actually, I’m not sure who you pray to so maybe don’t do that.
Is it fair to say that you’ve never passed in a no passing zone, EVER? You’ve never gotten a speeding ticket? Broken the law at any point?
He made a bad judgement call. It ended badly. He will have to live with it for the rest of his life. YOU, making asinine comments on here, helps nothing and no one.
And here comes the friends and family trying to defend this indefensible act. He was doing something incredibly stupid and it cost a young child his life. The killer gets to go on with his life,, unhurt, while his family makes excuses and comforts him… the other family will live in horror. 16 with a almost new truck with custom wheels and tires? Noooo.. he’s not spoiled. This makes me want to cry.
Passing in a no passing zone is not an accident it is a violation Prayers for all involved
I know generally where this collision occurred. I am not sure the reason for the no-passing zone. No-passing zones are normally intended for on-coming traffic, with the exception of certain, notably marked, intersections. This type of collision is difficult to investigate, as the the law under FSS 316.085(2) places a requirement on the driver of the turning vehicle. The burden of the investigating officers is to determine where each vehicle was at any given second of the incident, the speed of the overtaking vehicle, the condition of each vehicle, etc. Did the no-passing zone have a bearing on this incident? That is the reason, among others, for the scene to be secured for so long.
My condolences to all involved.
@ captian O…he is a good kid…it was a accident..he was not spoiled just because he had a nice truck..it is sad that the little boy lost his life..you wasnt there so you really don’t know what happened have a blessed day
Yesterday was a year ago since my accident and I pray for everyone all the time to be careful
@Hannah, They are collecting all the evidence possible, this is vehicular manslaughter. This young man will not only have to live with knowing that he killed a child, he will also spend time in prison, evidence collected will help determine how long he’s locked up. This is a terrible situation all around.
Wow!!! What a tragedy?!? I feel so badly for the parents of the deceasu child. What a tremendous loss that is.
To the parents of the 16 year old:
I hope you are proud of yourselves. You have reared and raised a killer. The other day he was the boy that you spoiled, coddled, and ultimately enabled. Now, riding around in his big awesome truck, trying to show off, and now he has proven that he has obviously learned nothing about respect for others, the law, or rules of the road.
Now life and the law will teach him the lessons that you sold your child short on.
Personally, I hope he never drives again, I hope he’s tried as an adult, I hope he loses that trial miserably, and I hope he spends a looooonggggg time behind bars.
@Tracy Smith. When I lived in Atmore, which was around three years ago, I remember the speed limit being 55. Am I mistaken? You say you travel at 60 to65 mph….that can be just as dangerous on Hwy. 97.
An inpatient teenager- my thoughts an prayers to everyone
This is the very reason I do not go to Pensacola any more is because I would have to drive down hwy 97. Folks need to slow down and pay attention to what they are doing and have the police start writing tickets tickets.
ITS TIME NORTH ESCAMBIA COUNTY RESIDENTS, CALL YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND TELL HIM TO GET YOUR SHERIFF TO HIDE IN TREES IF THAT WHAT IT TAKES, TO DOUBLE, TRIPLE FINES ON ATMORE HIGHWAY. TUNGOIL ROAD I MILE SOUTH TO ONE MILE NORTH HAS BECOME A NASCAR RACE TRACK. BOBBY KAY POSTED A POST ON FACEBOOK . PLEASE SHARE POST GET YOUR DAMN COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO DO WHATEVER, IM VERY MAD PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE ATMORE HIGHWAY SAFE AGAIN. IT COULD BE YOU NEXT TIME.
Very sad.
The stuff of nightmares for years to come.
even so, REGARDING:
“Hwy.97 is a death trap.”
Not inherently.
Few would ever even be injured if folks respected and tried to obey the traffic laws.
If the state would put in some passing lanes, would prevent some people from trying to pass in no passing zone. People will take chances when its a long straightaway, if they been following a car for a long distance.
@Mike…it is no too much truck if you teach your child how to responsibly drive the vehicle. Ours drove one just fine at 16!!
Prayers for all involved.
I agree with bartender. Highway 97 is a race track, passing on yellow lines is routine. Another thing is routine — no law enforcement on Highway 97. So sad, now another person killed. Prayers for all the victims.
…..Yeah the 16 year old guilty party walks away uninjured and the innocent 11 year old DEAD…that just don’t set well with me!…..the 16 year old driver and his parents should be charged with murder!
Atmore Autobahn strikes again. Sad. Nothing will ever be done out here until the kid of someone important dies on 97.
Breaks my heart! Prayers for the family and friends and the guilt this young man will carry with life.
It’s not an accident if one person is acting within the law and another flaunts the law. There are no second chances and a terrible loss of a child for one family here.
There was a good sized gathering of large, loud, newer pickup trucks with lots of decorative lighting added in the parking lot by Popeye’s on 9 mile rd Sat. evening. The young drivers all peeled out of the parking lot in front of cars heading west on 9 mile. I don’t know the ages of the young folks but with the way they disregarded oncoming cars who had the right of way and the lack of caring by leaving all that fast food trash, it really makes me sad to see how uncaring they were and the chances they were taking. I know parents can only do so much but careless driving costs lives every day. Please slow down and learn the laws, Prayers for all involved in the tragedy on Hwy 97.
My heart goes out the family that loos they young son, at the hand of a senseless act not understanding the danger of an automobile, if you don’t respect a vehicle you will kill yourself or someone else, and we experience that today, a day we will never forget.
My prayers are with each family.
I’m sure family and friends of the driver of the truck will make excuses but there is NONE he messed up sure he didn’t mean to but if you break the law “ no passing zone” I’d bet speeding then there is consequences for your actions !!!! A child is GONE others are hurt watch how long before he’s back flying n the road in nice new big truck!!
@THOMAS.
I dont know why you thought the little man had to be airlifted..did I miss something?
To the rest of you who are assuming what happened, you don’t know you wasn’t there..
Have a blessed day..
It was a tragically accident..Accident..no malice intended
Prayers for all involved
Crying as I type this. Praying for the family that lost their child, and praying for those that are injured to have a speedy recovery. Praying also for the young man that hit them. I am sure this will weigh heavy on his mind for the rest of his life. Please people, don’t blame the road. The roads don’t make people make mistakes, people makes mistake. I was just traveling on that road Friday morning, going up to Monroeville, Ala. I cringe when people go flying around me, even though I do 60, and set my cruise control at that speed, but I still have people fly around me doing 80 or more. However, sad to say, you’ll gain world peace before you’ll get people to show down and be careful. Sad, so sad for this family. My heart breaks for you.
Prayers to the family of the little boy. We were there shortly after it happened. It was very sad to watch.
Oh how Horrible and needless. My tears just are flowing and heart breaking for all involved. Passing in No Passing Zone, why, just WHY???
My heart goes out to everyone involved in this devastating time. May the Good Lord give y’all peace and comfort in your heart!❤️
I live on hwy.97 we sit on our front porch and watch cars day and night pass on a no passing zone. The state could make the state a lot of money!!! I have talked to a few state cops in the pass but I never have seen anyone out here sitting watching. Hwy.97 is a death trap. GOD be with them who are injured. Prayers being sent for the family.
I live off of this road. It is a drag strip in both directions between where this accident was north to the next set of pine trees. I usually travel 60-65 along this road and get not just passed but flown by. People traveling 70-75. They ignore no passing zones. I have informed FHP about the danger on this road to no avail. The curve just north of Tungoil is infamous for accidents from going to fast and losing it in the curve. We need police to pay attention.
Prayers for all involved but especially the family of the deceased young man. Everyone involved will wear permanent scars from this tragedy. The 16 year-old driver will forever wear blood on his hands from this irresponsible act.
So sad.
Prayers for everyone involved.
Too much vehicle / engine for a 16 year old
Prayers for these people..so sad
What was the hurry that this young man couldn’t wait why did he have to try to pass? Speeding trying to get to your destination what good is it if you crash take your own life or the life of others and never make it there anyway. Wherever he was trying to get to he’s incredibly late cuz he had to be airlifted. And that poor child it died. Let’s slow down out there people
My heart and prayers go out to all involved. Terrible tragedy.
My condolences to the family of the child,I pray that everyone involved God place a hedge of protection a hand to hold them and a kiss of healing.
I was approaching when this happened and we got turned around. Praying for everyone involved that is a very busy scary round. The way people drive fast and pass each other up.
Praying for each and everyone that was involved in this accident! May God give y’all peace and comfort
Prayers for all may God bless and give you peace and comfort in your heart ❤️
The road is still closed. They are still making everyone turn around.
Prayers for all involved.
As of 3 p.m. the road was still blocked.
I know 3 row SUVs are popular, but there’s no way I’d ever sit in that 3rd seat. If you get rear ended there’s no crumple zone there to protect you.
That just breaks my heart.god please be with all those people.i pray for the family that lost a precious child.speed is a big factor on that road.im scared everytime I’m on there.speed is 55 an most people go 70 to 80.i wish they could monitor that road more.
praying for all such a tragedy
So sad. Prayers for everyone involved, especially those that lost their 11 year old child.
Prayers for all involved. My heart goes out to you.