Wreck on the Island

OKALOOSA ISLAND, Florida — December 15, 2009 — A van fleeing from an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy patrol car crashed this afternoon, shutting down the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 98.

A person returning home to a residence in Destin noticed an open fence gate at their home and spotted a white male jumping over the fence.

Suspecting a burglary, the person called law enforcement and reported seeing a possible perpetrator and described a white van that could be a suspect vehicle,

Later, a deputy spotted the van and attempted to make a traffic stop. The man driving fled towards Fort Walton Beach at high speeds and crashed near Marler Bridge, Multiple vehicles were involved in the accident.

A medical helicopter was called to the scene, but was canceled due to the weather. The van's driver suffered serious injuries and was transferred to a hospital in Pensacola by ambulance.

The van involved in the accident somehow made its way through the sandy median from the westbound lane into the eastbound lane, and eastbound traffic from Fort Walton Beach to Destin, had been brought to a virtual standstill at 5:15 p.m. Traffic in the westbound lane was moving.

Florida Highway Patrol officers on the scene were not divulging any information about the accident.

A second burglary suspect is thought to be on foot somewhere in the area of the Nighttown club, Nicholson said. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Category:

Film & Animation

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• auto crash
• okaloosa island