Sunday Crash Claims Life Of Cantonment Man

October 1, 2023

A late Sunday morning crash claimed the life of a Cantonment man.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the 32-year old man lost control of his 2008 Honda Civic and crashed into a utility pole on Highway 297A south of Corral Drive and County Road 297A. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The pole was completely sheared off by the crash, while the vehicle came to rest close to a nearby structure.

The FHP is investigating but no longer releases the names of traffic crash victims.

Highway 297A wsa closed for hours for the investigation and repairs to the FPL utility pole.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “Sunday Crash Claims Life Of Cantonment Man”

  1. np630ss on October 3rd, 2023 9:09 pm

    I’ve lived in Pensacola since birth. The traffic conditions haven’t improved one iota. If anything, they’ve gotten worse. Blatant disregard for traffic laws is rampant. Some of the maneuvers I’ve seen pulled would terrify Evel Knievel. 99% of these stunts are a result of ZERO traffic law enforcement. I understand Sheriff Simmons has his hands full. State troopers are stretched to the breaking point. It would seem a traffic enforcement department should be established. Sending LEO’s out to survey the carnage is not pro-active. Support the dept from the fines issued. Heaven knows there will be a yearly budget surplus.

  2. Average traffic enthusiast on October 2nd, 2023 9:57 pm

    People need to slow down. This has gotten out of hand. Our traffic infrastructure is beyond fixable, and people are driving like psychopaths. It’s terrifying being on the road lately. I learned to drive here 25 years ago and consider myself a competent, assertive, safe driver. Before I had kids in my car, I may have gone 10-15 over the speed limit, when it was reasonably safe to do so. I get it, I was young not that long ago.

    Days like today, I feel like an extra on-set, filming the next installment of Mad Max. Going to pick up a pizza shouldn’t equal gambling with one’s life (talking to you Hungry Howies on Michigan).

    I’m tired of the blatant disregard for our own neighbors’ safety. I don’t want to meet you at a funeral. Stuff happens and people die all the time, but this is preventable.

    Every one please slow down. We’re all stuck at the same red lights anyway

  3. HWY 297A Resident on October 2nd, 2023 3:47 pm

    @ 429SCJ
    I totally understand that about how your accident happened. We all go through the same younger years, enjoying the muscle cars, the horsepower that goes with it, then comes the speed. I would have liked a fast car in high school, but had to settle for a Corvair my parents had. Guess that’s why I’m still alive and accident free.

    That is unbelievable to stop and find fragments of your car after 15 yrs later. Keepsakes now.

    @ Mike – Glad you survived the accident. It must have been horrific to get a ride in the air ambulance to the hospital.

    It would probably be beneficial to have a short guard rail along there. Getting the county to do anything, is like pulling teeth from a boar hog. The sticks in the road on Pine Forest and Hwy297A has caused 5 accidents in the last month. Drivers on Pine Forest do not take precautions when barreling through there. Poor road design as traffic on both roads are trying to jockey into one lane or the other. Then you have that mess with people trying to get a cup o’ espresso at Starbucks or auto parts at O’Reillys. I detest going that way now. I take Pine Cone if I’m turning right onto 9 Mile. I take 81/2 Mile Creek Road if I’m turning left onto 9 Mile. I feel more at ease driving in this area now.

    Y’all be safe out there and watch for other motorists.

  4. 429SCJ on October 2nd, 2023 3:12 pm

    @HWY 297A, speed is absolutly the prime factor here. I know that my accident was caused by too much horsepower for an immature driver, exercising poor judgement.

    Bad driver aside, it may be time to place a guard rail there, as that curve has built up in residential density and a car may end up in someone’s house, l. I learned the hard way, hope others simply exercise good judgement and slow down.
    Moreover, I stopped at my accident site like 15 years later, was able to find small fragments of plastic, painted Ford Cobra Jet blue.

  5. HWY 297A Resident on October 2nd, 2023 1:41 pm

    I have lived in the area for over 60 years. The curve everyone is referring to is only a slight movement to the left . Health related emergencies, distractions, speeding, not paying attention and not maintaining your lane causes many accidents. Not sure about this one and the reason for the crash.

    HWY 97 and Devine Farm Road – YES – a dangerous curve to drive around.

    Many drivers do not stop at HWY 297A and HWY 97. Some speed up to keep from getting hit after pulling out, while others go too slow and almost get rearended. Drivers fly over the bridge, continue South and I see most run over the center line or sliding along the edge of the road. I move far right if I’m driving North in that area. Driving South I give plenty of distance. Because that one time I don’t, someone is going off the road or hitting head-on. My neighbor was hit head-on by a North bound dump truck. She and her daughter survived, but at one time barely holding on to life.

    It takes a simple mistake to look at your phone, accelerate too much, or sightseeing to have an accident.

    Prayers to the family of this young man.

    Please everyone drive within the speed limits, stay off your phone, don’t eat and drive, discipline your children at home and ladies, apply makeup in your home not your car.

  6. Barry Smith on October 2nd, 2023 12:15 pm

    FACT: Obey the laws and the rules of the road; Always drive defensively; Do not drink and drive; Do not be in a hurry. Stay focus in your driving (NOcell useage). The CURVE is not the problem !! Sorry for what the family is going through and the memory of this tragedy.

  7. Mike on October 2nd, 2023 11:13 am

    I’ve lived on 297a for nearly 20 years and was in a wreck at the flashing light where 97 splits off 297a in 2010. It was bad enough I got a ride in a helicopter and was lucky to have survived it. People drive too fast on this road and it’s not well lit after dark. Be patient and be careful if you drive 297a regularly.

  8. Al on October 2nd, 2023 11:02 am

    Prayers for his family. People keep saying bad curve. That is not a bad curve. If you are speeding any curve is bad. I have lived out there for around 42 years and never an issue with that area. The only curve that might be considered dangerous is the one on 97 by Devine Rd. But if you are going the speed limit and paying attention it’s not a problem.

  9. Charlotte Schwartz on October 2nd, 2023 9:31 am

    It’s not the road, it’s the drivers. Blaming the road is like blaming a gun for killing people. The road just lays there, but the person driving is not operating the vehicle in a manner that can handle the road. Some will be upset at this statement, but the truth is the truth. It is very sad that someone lost their life and I pray that the family will be comforted by our Lord and Savior.

  10. Swamp Gas on October 2nd, 2023 8:55 am

    The curve is not the issue.

  11. 429SCJ on October 2nd, 2023 5:45 am

    Paryesr for that soul’s loved ones

    That curve totaled my Mach 1, back in Aug 77. Bad curve, long history.

  12. Family Member on October 1st, 2023 10:54 pm

    We going to miss you cuzco !!! Lord thank you for da yrs he shared with us ! Praying for my family!!

  13. MT on October 1st, 2023 10:52 pm

    Prayers for the family and Friends, God Bless

  14. @myresidence on October 1st, 2023 6:38 pm

    Praying for the family. The sound of this crash rang familiar as I have lived here for 6 years+, this curve is no joke & has claimed many lives. This adding to 1 of 4 that I know about not including the ones survived.God bless!