Accidents

Blountstown man dies after motorcycle hit from behind

November 26, 2010

A 23-year-old Blountstown man died of injuries sustained in a traffic accident after he was hit from behind Friday in Tallahassee. Jason Sulewski was on his 2005 Yamaha motorcycle and had stopped on S.R. 20, where he was waiting to turn onto Ben Stoutamire Road when he was struck, according to a report from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. A 1998 Dodge Caravan driven by Gerhard Hofbauer, 59, was traveling east on S.R. 20 when he collided with Sulewski. Sulewski was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died Sunday night. The crash remains under investigation. Less...

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Car overturns north of Bristol Sunday

November 5, 2010
Car overturns north of Bristol Sunday

A Millwood, GA. man and his seven-year-old son sustained minor injuries after their car overturned in a ditch along State Road 12 North Sunday evening, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP Trooper Ronny Snipes said Alfred J. Purdy, 38, and his son crawled out of the passenger’s side window after the crash. Purdy was traveling east on S.R. 12 when his 2000 Chevrolet went off the road and into a grassy ditch around 6:55 p.m. The right front of the car collided with a small tree, causing it to overturn. The car came to rest...

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Hunter hurt in fall from tree stand

October 29, 2010

A 47-year-old man hunting on Forest Road 136 in Liberty County was injured when he fell approximately 20 feet from a tree stand Sunday afternoon. Jose Ernesto Garcia, of Stuart, was camping with friends and family at Camel Lake before going into the woods. One of his friends was hunting nearby and heard him when he tumbled out of a long leaf pine tree, according to FWC Officer Lane Bentley. “He was fortunate they were hunting together,” Bentley said, “He didn’t lay there too long before the ambulance got there.” Bentley said Garcia’s face was badly scratched and he...

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Driver OK after van goes over railing, down hill

October 22, 2010
Driver OK after van goes over railing, down hill

Rescue workers had to cut a driver free from her wrecked van after she went over a guardrail, down a hill and into the woods Sunday at Hwy. 71 South and Gaskin Street in Blountstown. The driver, Courtney Register of Blountstown, reportedly fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle around 6:45 a.m. She had minor injuries to her hand. The vehicle was wedged into a wooded area and several trees had to be cut before it could be removed.

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Clarksville woman dies in rollover Tuesday

October 22, 2010
Clarksville woman dies in rollover Tuesday

A 63-year-old Clarksville woman died Tuesday after losing control of a van at the intersection of S.R. 73 and S.R. 71 in Calhoun County. The Florida Highway Patrol identified the deceased as Dorothy L. Barfield. Traveling with Barfield was James D. Spann, 38, who was seriously injured in the 1:55 p.m. crash. He was transported to Bay Medical Center by emergency helicopter. Barfield was taken by ambulance to Calhoun-Liberty Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to the FHP report, Barfield was traveling south on S.R. 73 when she failed to stop at the clearly marked intersection with S.R....

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Cars collide after running stop sign in Hosford Friday

October 15, 2010
Cars collide after running stop sign in Hosford Friday

Five people sustained minor injuries and two vehicles were totaled in a collision Friday night in Hosford. Two vehicles were traveling north on Chester Street and failed to heed a stop sign at State Road 20. Both drove across the state road and onto NE Zack Luke Road around 11:27 p.m. The first vehicle – a 2001 Ford Explorer, driven by Derek Basford, 22, of Panama City – collided with a tree. The second vehicle – a 1995 four-door Honda driven by Matthew Scott McKenny, 19, of Freeport – ran into the back of Basford’s vehicle. The impact caused...

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Man injured in fall from tree stand Sunday

September 24, 2010

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor A Panama City man suffered spinal injuries after a tree stand gave way and sent him falling 25 feet to the ground late Sunday afternoon on a hunting lease in Calhoun County. James Hellett, 56, was in stable condition at Bay Medical Center Monday, where he was awaiting test results to determine if he will need surgery on two fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Hellett was on the14,000-acre property known as Sweetwater, where he and his son, Carl Hellett, had been hunting for the past four years. He was getting the property ready...

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Car rear-ends truck waiting to turn

September 24, 2010
Car rear-ends truck waiting to turn

Two people had only minor injuries and one car had major damage after an early morning accident on State Road 20, two miles east of Bristol. According to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Ronny Snipes, both vehicles were eastbound around 6:50 a.m. when a 2000 Saturn, driven by David M. Hamm, rear-ended a 2004 Chevrolet pickup that had stopped to make a left turn onto to Joe Chason Circle. The left front of the Saturn hit the right rear of the pickup driven by Michael D. Shierling of Bristol. The impact caused both vehicles to rotate across the oncoming lane...

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Family, customers and co-workers mourn Blountstown man killed in Hwy. 65 rollover Sunday

September 10, 2010
Family, customers and co-workers mourn Blountstown man killed in Hwy. 65 rollover Sunday

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor An early morning accident has claimed the life of 29-year-old Daniel Raynard Reed of Blountstown. He was pronounced dead after being transported to Calhoun-Liberty Hospital from the crash site in Hosford. Reed was traveling south on SR 65 around 3 a.m. Sunday morning when he lost control of his 1999 Toyota, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. As he entered a left curve, Reed’s vehicle went off the road and traveled on the grassy shoulder. When he turned back onto Hwy. 65, Reed overcorrected, sending the vehicle spinning around counterclockwise as...

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Two hurt in fiery collision Thursday

September 10, 2010
Two hurt in fiery collision Thursday

by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor A fiery crash on Whitewater Grade Road sent two Calhoun County women to the hospital Thursday afternoon. Louise V. Foxworth, 53, of Altha was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in critical condition. Janis L. Dutton, 45, of Clarksville, was flown to Bay Medical Center in serious condition. Dutton was released from the hospital Monday and is home recuperating from her injuries, which included some broken bones, a relative said. As of Tuesday afternoon, Foxworth remained in Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where she is listed in fair condition. According to the FHP report, Dutton was traveling...

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