Ohio Couple Killed On 331: Husband's Band's Website

[Miss Kitty]

Your story makes me sad Darlene. I hope sharing it helps.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Kathy, you didn't hijack this thread--what you wrote needed to be written, and I'm glad you gave us the opportunity to read it. I think we're all so used to driving that we sometimes forget that in the wrong hands, cars can be deadly weapons. We all need to be aware and alert every time we get behind the wheel because you never know what irresponsible people we might be sharing the road with. Some people don't know, don't care, and don't think about the repercussions of their bad driving, as your story illustrates! I hope we don't read about any more vehicular tragedies. It's all so heartbreaking.

ditto, my thoughts exactly.

 

[katie blue]

Wow. I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Images like that can be hard to erase. Maybe they do serve to give us perspective in the long run, but still. So sad, for everyone.

 

[gilesdad]

Did I misunderstand the story featured in the Walton Sun? I thought I read that a witness stated that the driver had passed a vehicle, and when re-entering the lane, he went off the right hand side of the pavement, tried to pull back onto the road (and due to the drop-off), overcorrected, and went into the oncoming lane of traffic, running head on into another vehicle. Is this not what you guys read? To me, it didn't sound like Jesus, the driver, was trying to pass when he hit the vehicle.

FHP said alcohol was a factor in the accident and charges are pending against Bernal.

My imagery is of the truck tailgating, then whipping around the car to pass. Swerving back in front of the car causing the truck to go hard to the right shoulder. Then jerking the wheel back to the left sending the truck right into the path of the Rooks. Is that the way it happened?
But in any case the guy was drunk behind the wheel and in my opinion WAS passing a car when he shouldn't have been.
There is a legal maximum speed, and a legal minimum speed for highways. Anywhere in between is fine although we all know we don't want to be stuck behind the guy driving 48 mph. Hopefully the driver that this drunk had just passed wasn't intentionally driving slower just to get Jesus to go around him.
That'd be hard to live with also.

I admit I also found myself being cautious on the way home last night. It seemed as if every oncoming vehicle was about to pull across the center line.
During the late fall, winter and spring I tend to use the rural roads on my 30 mile commute through the cornfields of Illinois. Just to stay away from as many cars as possible. But now that the corn is high I need to stay on the highways. Way too many people disregard the stop signs in the rural areas when they can't even see what's coming behind a 9 foot wall of corn stalks.
And would you believe that there are still unmarked intersections in the country around here? With corn blocking the view from three directions, people still drive right through the intersections at 60 mph!

 

[JB]

FHP said alcohol was a factor in the accident and charges are pending against Bernal.

My imagery is of the truck tailgating, then whipping around the car to pass. Swerving back in front of the car causing the truck to go hard to the right shoulder. Then jerking the wheel back to the left sending the truck right into the path of the Rooks. Is that the way it happened?
But in any case the guy was drunk behind the wheel and in my opinion WAS passing a car when he shouldn't have been.

Exactly. It makes no difference whatsoever whether the guy passed legally or not. All that matters is HE WAS DRUNK.

And Kathy, I certainly don't think you should cancel your trip because of this. If you have read my posts on the subject, it should be obvious that I am pretty upset about this as well. Still, we have to live our lives

If I were in your position, I would try to time my trip across the bridge when the traffic is lightest and when there is the least chance of drunks being on the road - in other words, at about 10 a.m.

 

[Diane4145]

I had heard of Shannon's tragic event and am so thankful, that she survived!

I've often said, that the "system sucks" and it does! One of my son's was assaulted by his manager, at a resort restaurant and in front of other employees! Why? For his eating a roll, while standing around at work. Everyone would snack on them, on occasion! In fact, we now have the confiscated video, clearly showing the assault and manager walking right by another server while eating a roll and he said/did nothing!

From what I've learned, the owner of the restaurant has ALL property video cameras, linked to his home and we believe that he told the manager to make my son an example, for NOT eating his rolls(profit)! The main reason that I mention this, is the following. You said that the deputies had indicated that there were only a few of them, to cover the area. That mentality, comes from above them! I personally contacted the Asst. State Attorney, Greg Anchors, about my son's situation. I couldn't believe, his response! He informed me that they didn't have the MANPOWER, to go around arresting people like the manager assaulting my son! I was appaulled and contacted the State Attorney himself, Bill Eddins. Guess what he said on a three way call, with Anchors in his office? "If it were his son, he'd simply tell him to quit his job and MOVE ON"! I told them both, that they were SUPPOSED to protect us and make sure that people adhear to the laws!

The manager was finally arrested, but nothing really happened to him! As for the owner of the business, he'll eventually get what he deserves! I'm certain, that this will all be in the media, if I have my way! Venting here has been theraputic for me, too! Thanks

I have to tell you, since this accident occured I have had major panic attacks. I also had second thoughts about driving down. I know that we all have to get on with our lives and keep living, but this has affected me so much.

2 weeks ago me, my son, and several friends were at a local lake/park beach area here. There were some people drinking and heaven only knows what else. There is supposed to be no alcohol at this park. Two of my best friends that were with me are on our Volunteer Fire Department and they are EMT's. When we saw these people clearly, clearly drunk/high they called the Sherrif's department. There were ALOT of people and kids there. One of the intoxicated ladies got in her car and put it in reverse, she never looked behind her and hit the gas. She almost, I mean within inches ran over her young son. Her car went down the bank. The deputies arrived. The went over and TALKED to these people. There were about 4 of them. They gave the key's to a guy that was with them, that he himself was clearly intoxicated. They came walking over my us and I asked them if they were going to take them to jail for PI, I told them that they did not need to be there around all these people and kids in the shape they were in. I told them that she had almost ran over her own child. They did nothing, I mean nothing. The deputy's left. I could not believe it. Move ahead 45 minutes later. The other lady that was clearly intoxicated got into the man's truck that the sherrifs gave the keys to. I was sitting about 50 yards from the truck. There was a family lying on a blanket, a 36 yr old woman and her 3 year old son. The woman get's in this truck and starts to back up. I got up screaming and yelling for her to stop, everybody did. She never stopped, the woman that was lying on the blanket grabbed her child and threw him out of the way, thank god. The tailgait hit her in the head knocking her to the ground, the truck never stopped, the back tire ran over this poor woman's head, then the lady in the truck put it in drive and ran over her head again. I was in complete shock, as was my son, and everyone else that was there. Thank God there were EMT's there. They med-flighted her to the hospital. When the sherrif's arrived again, yes the same one's who were there 45 minutes prior this happening, I could not stop myself I was screaming and yelling at them as to why they had not done something earlier about these people. Their response to my was "We are only two people patrolling this county". What the hell does that mean. They said they did not have probable cause to arrest them at that time. OH, by Gosh I was so mad. To the end of of this story.....All the people were eventually arrested. The man that owned the truck kicked the window out of the sherriffs car on the way to jail. The lady that ran over Shannon, had warrents for her arrest out of Florida, they also found massive amounts of pills/meth and other drugs in her purse. I am sure she will spend a while in jail. Shannon was released from the hospital 5 day's later. She did not have insurance, so let her out. She needs more surgeries to correct the damage to her skull and eye socket. She will never see out of her right eye again. It was a tragic accident that never should have happened. I have since learned that she has hired a lawyer, I sent word to her that if she needed any witnesess to testify on her behalf I would be there in a heart beat. In my opinion, the sherrifs department would be paying her medical bills because they did not do their jobs in the first place. And of course the higher up's in the sherriffs department are standing behind their "fine deputy's. I say all of this to say this. I have been traumatized by both of these events. I am 44 years old and I have never had panic attacks, but I swear all of this had just tore me up. My hope is that everyone involved in both of these tragic accidents will get the help to heal that they need. I mean those that caused the accidents and those that were hurt by them. I am hopping that the lady that ran over Shannon, realizes her life must change, and change now. I am hoping that the man who caused the accident on 331 get's the help he needs. I know this is long, but I had to get it out, and it is theraputic for me to write it down.

I wish everyone who is traveling to SoWal in the near future a safe trip. All of you say a prayer for me on the 8th that all of us that are traveling down will be safe.

Love to you all.

 

[aquaticbiology]

Accident location:


http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.ad...HWAY+83+&+331&city=FREEPORT&state=FL&zipcode=

legal passing zone, but can't exactly see the drop-off on the shoulder

i'm assuming this is the true spot, a bit north of the causeway (image is from video taken headed south last year)

 

[Diane4145]

SJ, you're right. He had passed a vehicle and went too far onto the shoulder, when getting back in right lane. He then over corrected and shot across to the South bound lane, hitting the Rook's head on. I've experienced that, first hand! I fell asleep at the wheel going South bound, on I65! I shot across the median and even all the way across the North bound lane, coming to a stop, with NO traffic in sight! I was so shaken and very prayerful! It can happen, in an instant!

Did I misunderstand the story featured in the Walton Sun? I thought I read that a witness stated that the driver had passed a vehicle, and when re-entering the lane, he went off the right hand side of the pavement, tried to pull back onto the road (and due to the drop-off), overcorrected, and went into the oncoming lane of traffic, running head on into another vehicle. Is this not what you guys read? To me, it didn't sound like Jesus, the driver, was trying to pass when he hit the vehicle.

 

[Diane4145]

Moral to this story: NEVER TAKE ALKASELTZER COLD, WHILE DRIVING!

SJ, you're right. He had passed a vehicle and went too far onto the shoulder, when getting back in right lane. He then over corrected and shot across to the South bound lane, hitting the Rook's head on. I've experienced that, first hand! I fell asleep at the wheel going South bound, on I65! I shot across the median and even all the way across the North bound lane, coming to a stop, with NO traffic in sight! I was so shaken and very prayerful! It can happen, in an instant!