MyPanhandle.com reported recently that a man was killed in the Florida panhandle area of Washington County in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, 2021.
According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident took place along FL State Road 77 near Gravel Pit Road on Sunday, February 28, 2021 between 4:15 a.m. and 4:25 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in Washington County, just inland of Panama City Beach area between Tallahassee and Pensacola. A vehicle driven by a man from Bonifay, 30 years of age, was driving southbound on SR 77 while another vehicle, driven by a Chipley man 55 years of age, headed north. For unknown reasons still under investigation, the southbound car veered out of its lane and crossed the centerline of the roadway; this resulted in a head-on collision between the two vehicles.
After both cars spun out, the driver of the southbound vehicle that caused the accident fled the accident scene before the arrival of law enforcement or emergency crews. The other driver, from the northbound vehicle, died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the impact.
Florida Highway Patrol officials state they do have a person of interest in the incident and are seeking him at this time. The accident remains under investigation.