Speed kills on Hwy. 98
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Two accidents occurred along highway 98 last weekend - one resulted in a fatality, the other injured four people.

Dustin H. Frick, 28, of Fort Walton Beach was killed on Aug. 25 at approximately 2 a.m. as a result of a vehicular collision near the Santa Rosa/Okalossa county line on Highway 98. A police report said Frick's 1999 Honda Accord was traveling westbound in the outside lane of Highway 98 "at a high rate of speed" when his vehicle rearended a semi truck traveling in the same lane. Paramedics pronounced Frick dead at the scene of the accident. James A. Bush, 46, of Mobile, Ala. was driving the semi and did not sustain any injuries from the accident, the report said. The report also said Frick was not wearing a seatbelt. No charges had been filed as of press time as police were still investigating the incident.

Another accident occurred Aug. 26 at 3:36 p.m. in Navarre near the intersection of Highway 98 and Whispering Pines Boulevard. According to police reports, a 1995 Mercury fourdoor car traveling west on 98 collided with a 2002 Dodge Truck traveling south on Whispering Pines Boulevard when the driver of the Mercury, Larry G. Snook, 60, failed to stop at a red light.

According to police reports, Snook, 60, and passenger Julie F. Snook, 62, were both transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola via LifeFlight helicopter due to the critical nature of their injuries.

The report also stated the truck's driver, William F. Harp, 43, was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola via ambulance with serious injuries. The truck's passenger, Julie R. Harp, 39, received minor injuries but did not require hospitalization.

The Snooks were not wearing seatbelts and Larry Snook was cited for violation of a traffic control device.

All four people involved were from Navarre. Police said alcohol was not a factor in the accident. All three hospitalized accident victims were listed in good condition as of Monday, Aug. 27.