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Three Airlifted After Multi-Vehicle Crash On Highway 97 In Molino
January 25, 2023
Three people were airlifted to an area hospital with critical injuries following a multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 97 in Molino.
The crash happened about 3 p.m. on Highway 97 just north of Sunshine Hill Road.
Three people were declared “trauma alerts” and flown to the hospital by three different medical helicopter services — LifeFlight, Medstar Air Care, and Shandscair — from a landing zone set up at Molino Park Elementary School. At least two of the victims were males in their 60s, according to reports.
At least one other person was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered critical.
The vehicles involved in the wreck included a GMC Hummer, a pickup truck and a passenger car.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released the cause of the crash, which closed down Highway 97 and detoured drivers.
The Molino, McDavid and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded, along with multiple Escambia County EMS units and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Photos by Melody Johnson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
22 Responses to “Three Airlifted After Multi-Vehicle Crash On Highway 97 In Molino”
@resident I am a victim of careless driver on Hwy 97. I spent close to 60 days in the hospital with broken phemur,hip,pelvis,and multiple other complications from surgery. My accident was about 3 miles from this one. My mother was in an accident almost same exact spot in 1982 (head on collision) she also spent 6 weeks in hospital and many surgeries. Just like %90 of the accidents on this road they were both head on and caused from people crossing the yellow line!!!!! If you are in that big of a hurry that you have to put someone life in danger maybe you are the problem. I pray you or your loved one never has to go threw the pain I have every day because of somebody carelessness.
I recently saw an empty logging truck going North on Hwy 97 pass 2 carts and a box truck going up a hill on a double yellow line. I actually prayed that no vehicle was coming South at that instant.
I also wish that drivers driving very slow or tractors don’t pull over to allow others to pass when a whole line is following. If you had a flat tire you would find a safe spot to pull over.
There is no excuse to pass on a double yellow line. Years ago I was rushing my daughter to the hospital. She had been stung by a wasp and was in anaphylactic shock. I put on my flashing lights and was far exceeding the speed limit. Thankfully only a few cars were in front of me and they pulled over to let me pass so I didn’t cross any solid yellow lines.
I feel that widening the road would be a permanent solution or as someone else suggested, perhaps a few areas where slower cars could pull over to allow other drivers to safely pass.
The uncontrolled growth in the area will only make it worse.Face it, your standard of living is over in that once slow moving area.
@long time Molino citizen everything u said is EXACTLY right
That’s my red big rig in the last pic I was get my fire extinguisher out to put out the fire of the white car and help get the man out the car. I travel that road atleast 5 times a week and passing is really bad they had just zoomed past me in the Walnut Hill school zone with the light flashing. I know they need more patrolling for illegal passing, the accident happened in non passing zone.
@ Resident…funny, I drive this road 2-4 times a day nearly every day of the year for the past 10 yrs and rarely if ever find anyone driving so far under the speed limit, (top speed is 55 on this road) but nearly everyone doing 55 65+mph. The ones causing the issue are the ones driving WAAAYYYY too fast, I’m not talking 5-10 over, I’m talking 20-30+ over, the ones paying attention to everything but the road and especially the ones passing in the no passing zones. On the rare occasions I encounter a very slow driver, I just wait until the proper area and pass legally and safely. As long as they are doing the speed limit I don’t feel the need to pass them.
Praise God for protection over my cousin he is a great man of God. I know your guardian angel was with you. Prayers are going up for you and all involved.
This road is just so evil….no police..yellow line .or speeding is gonna help this road. I hate it and I dont get why they don’t figure out how to make it safer…yes I agree slowing down no passing and better policing would help but come on people someone needs to figure something our here
There is a lot of speeding on 97 but there is also a lot of driving 10,15, and 20 miles under the speed limit. If they are gonna pull people over for going too fast then they need to do the same for the one holding up traffic
I travel, at least once a week, from Cantonment to Atmore. I am on extra alert system when I drive that stretch. I pray to God to keep me and my sister safe. When I took driver’s ed in high school, back in the sixties, one thing that has stuck with me about what my teacher said all these years. He told us, “Whenever in doubt. Don’t do it.” Meaning passing another vehicle. Praying for all involved.
I always wear my seatbelt when on four wheels and a helmet when on two.
You just never know. The vehicles I see don’t show much cabin damage.
My bet is belts were not being used.
I use 97 everyday, and though there are plenty of people speeding and passing unsafely, I also pass at least one State Trooper and one County police car almost every single day. But the locals really should know better by now. Everyone is in such a hurry these days.
The FHP are more worried about people doing 50 in a 45 on Muscogee Road from the RR Tracks to Beulah Road. This section of road is extremely wide and safe but they watch this section like a hawk. Meanwhile folks are flying up and down 97 day and night.
Maybe the county could put in stretches of 4 lanes to give more opportunities to pass. Maybe that would stop the passing in dangerous areas.
I live close to the scene. Over the past few years I have seen 3 mangled dead bodies and many wrecks. At one accident in front of my place there was a HP With blue lights flashing, ambulance with flashing, and fire truck with lights
A car going south topped the hill and went through the very active scene clocked at 81
By HP. I have to pull out of my driveway and accelerate rapidly because cars over the hill going much over 55 limit will run up on me an try to pass
I have been passed many times doing a good solid 55 on double yellow going south between Gibson Road and 29
Have seen many accidents 97/29 including one death. He hit back of truck Went through windshield hit truck head first Bounced back dead by his driver door that was closed and air bags deployed. No seat belt!!!!
There is no respect for rules or other drivers between US 29 and 97 to Atmore.
Extremely dangerous highway. I guess they don’t care if they kill us and our family members. Last week a SUV. Passed me going at least 55 she was fast. 75/80 as soon as she passed me, she slammed on brakes and turned into Molino Elementary
Children in car. Long line at school entrance. She gained nothing by speeding
Eric is absolutely correct!
Hwy 97 is a long stretch of highway so it’s unfair to say law enforcement is absent. I will agree they aren’t out there like they are on Hwy 29 but yesterday I actually saw one that had pulled someone over for speeding. Yes I’ll admit I’ve also been pulled over in Davisville, thought he’d let me go since I’m older but didn’t work that way. Guess the county will pay better attention when it’s one of their own involved. I do agree more would be better though, since I learned my lesson of speeding.
maybe trying to pass when there is a blind spot in front because of the hills. don’t forget people, there may be other folks also driving 70 mph towards you.
I hope everyone is ok. I’ve been cut out of a car in a wreck like this before. it’s a bad situation.
My driveway is a couple hundreds yards from where this crash occurred and like Eric said people pass right there all the time with hills where you can’t see! I have almost been rear ended multiple times turning into my driveway! People need slow down! I pray everyone involved pulls through!
Double yellow on a hill… no passing zone. Wonder what happen
Because of the absence of law enforcement patrolling Highway 97 and drivers complete disregard of speed limits and yellow no passing markings these horrible accidents continue. Hope everyone survives
I live very close to this accident scene. Dozens of vehicles, if not hundreds, pass illegally in that stretch. I see them all day, going 60 to 70 mph, passing two or three cars at a time, across double yellow lines, with a small hill in the road where you can’t see over, and all near that intersection. I hear horns beeping and tires squealing all day from people trying to avoid an accident. Nothing is ever done to patrol this area by the state police and I’m not sure why. Its a state highway with enough accidents and deaths to warrant some type of enforcement.