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Cantonment Man Guilty In Hit And Run That Killed One Juvenile, Injured Another
July 9, 2021
A Cantonment man was convicted Thursday in connection hitting two juveniles with his SUV last year on Quintette Road, killing one of them.
Robert William Etheridge II, 59, was found guilty of one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 13.
About 8 p.m. on April 6, 2020, 12-year old Hailey Locke and 13-year old Rylee Simmons, both students at Ransom Middle School, were on Quintette Road approaching Carrington Lake Boulevard when they were struck by a Ford Escape driven by Etheridge. Troopers said he fled the scene and called the FHP about 24 minutes later to say he thought he had hit a deer.
The windshield was cracked in the crash, but not enough to obscure the driver’s view, according to an arrest report. The area in which the collision occurred was lit with multiple overhead lights, the weather was clear and there was a full moon, FHP said.
When law enforcement responded to his home, Etheridge showed signs of intoxication. The jury determined by their verdict that Etheridge knew, or should have known, that he had collided with people and left the scene of the crash.
Rylee was removed from a life support a little over a week later after his organs were donated.
Pictured top: Rylee Simmons, 13. Photo provided by family for NorthEscambia.com. Pictured below: The crash scene on April 6, 2020. NorthEscambia.com photos.
Comments
11 Responses to “Cantonment Man Guilty In Hit And Run That Killed One Juvenile, Injured Another”
To hear this man feels sorry for what he did does not bring back the life he took, not do his actions even remotely match those words you say he feels. It does not stop the nightmares, the crying the depression, the survivors guilt the girl has to now deal with as a child herself . THIS man shows NO remorse as he laughed in that courtroom with his family while the victims families cried looking at their babies blood all over his vehicle, then another stunt to make a child who struggles every day with migraines, memory loss, depression, panic attacks and will probably be in counseling the rest of her life… he decided to fire his attorney in front of her sending her spiraling back to depression as she feels she is in a nightmare she will never wake up from. She feels she will never get justice for her best friend which at this point JUSTICE is the only thing she feels she can still give him because she knows she will never be able to see him again, laugh with him again… JUSTICE.. that is what this child wants and if he was remorseful as you say he would care about the child’s feelings more than his own but just like that night he is selfish and doesn’t care who he hurts if it means saving himself. HE is selfish, your brother needs to take hus sentence and stop dragging this out trying to be free!! HE killed a little boy we love and HE permanently, mentally and physically, ruined another child’s childhood, her happiness, her life, her belief the world has good people… she saw what evil this world has when your brother left them. Alone and scared, left them there to die… that is how your brother left them kids. Shame on you for defending his character. No one has to know him to know it takes a cold person to leave two children fighting for their life, a cold person to stand before a child he hurt and him steadily wanting to get out of a punishment that he deserves for hurting two innocent kids. Bad choices have consequences that is what we teach our kids but yet he is trying to get the least amount of time possible for taking a life. That in my book does not qualify as a good mortal soul.
I’m assuming his intoxication was alcohol? At any rate, how many of you drink? Just remember this, IF YOU NEVER TAKE THAT FIRST DRINK….IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BECOME AN ALCOHOLIC, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE LIFE UNDER THE INFLUENCE!!
This was horrible for all of the affected families– the victims’ and the offender’s.
My brother made a terrible, fateful decision that will possibly see him die in jail. I am not trying to defend or deflect the pain and agony he has caused to these families, and I pray they can find forgiveness in their hearts. But I know my brother and he is devastated by what happened.
Please ask for forgiveness for my brother, and know that he will serve his sentence as described.
Bob Etheridge II is not “scum,” an “animal,” or anything else people who do not know him, yet feel qualified to offer their opinions on his mortal soul.
No one won on this situation.
Prayers to all.
This is just a sad and tragic situation all the way around… I’ve known Bob for 30 years, he never harmed a fly, he loves kids, in fact he would surprise my kids with Valentine candy, or little trinkets on holidays. When I met Bob he had not long stopped following the Grateful Dead and was doing metal sculptures. He was just a nice, fun and creative person. It is sad a child lost their life and Bob is responsible. I know this is something that he will think about and feel guilty for every day.
All that said. to the family, I’m so so sorry for the loss of your son and I’m so sorry for what the little girl will be haunted by forever as well. I will be praying for you all. I’m sincerely heart broken by your loss.
Its just sad all the way around. I know Bob and he is a good person , he comes from a good family. He definitely made a bad decision that will be on his mind forever and the kids families forever. I shall hope they all gain some peace somehow.
I doubt he will ever be a free man again.
Thank God for Justice. He thought he hit a deer. Well you should have stopped to take it home with you, but no you left the deer (CHILD) on the side of the road for the vultures. Think about that for 30 years.
I though drunks call the sheriffs office to report their vehicle was stolen once they kill or injured someone. I guess he was too drunk to think of that. Since proving he was drunk at the time of the crash would be hard to prove, 20 years sound like a fair punishment.
Life time revocation of license, mandatory 5 years in prison, resulting in death 30 years in prison and restitution, that never ends.
Violate any of the above any anything on lifetime probation..prison for life.
Stop playing with these drunks….stop the 110 strikes your out rule.
DUI or drug use.
Stop playing footsie with scum.
Florida legislator needs to pass laws that make hit and run offense more punishable than an actual DUI conviction of a driver that doesn’t flee the seen.
That way a driver would not have any incentive to flee the seen thinking they could claim they were sober to avoid a DUI conviction and sentence.