Blue Mountain Beach Access Destroyed, Rebuilt, Reopened!

OMG - drunk driver driving south on 83 just kept going?

Unbelievable.

Anyone have details?

The Highway Patrol report said the driver was from Illinois and he was driving fast along CR-83 in "inclement weather," he said he fell asleep and the car hit the wooden beach access walkway and then traveled down the slope onto the beach.

Matt J, can you please message me or send me an email at beachbreezenews@gmail.com Tried to send you a message but wasn't able to. Thanks!

The Highway Patrol report said the driver was from Illinois and he was driving fast along CR-83 in "inclement weather," he said he fell asleep and the car hit the wooden beach access walkway and then traveled down the slope onto the beach.

Wow that's scary. I hope no one was injured. It's a busy access.

It's very scary. We walked by it yesterday and the vehicle was going fast enough to shear off an entire row of 6x6 handrail posts. We are very lucky that the access was unoccupied when the accident happened. It is completely destroyed and will take a lot of work to fix.

It's very scary. We walked by it yesterday and the vehicle was going fast enough to shear off an entire row of 6x6 handrail posts. We are very lucky that the access was unoccupied when the accident happened. It is completely destroyed and will take a lot of work to fix.

Is the car still there?

The car has been removed.

Matt J, can you please message me or send me an email at beachbreezenews@gmail.com Tried to send you a message but wasn't able to. Thanks!

Done

Here's an aerial.

Bizarre. I hope no one was hurt.

I think somebody heard the dulcet sounds of the Dukes of Hazzard theme song as it careened over the edge!

That's some scary stuff since she had to have gone through two separate stop signs before going over the edge. Good thing it happened at such an early hour. I think I read somewhere that it happened at about 5:00AM

We've had worse.

We've had worse.

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I remember that. My band was playing that week at Hogsbreath Saloon on Okaloosa Island when that happened. It was super foggy the whole weekend.

Anyone have an update on rebuilding efforts?

From Dotty Nist around Dec 19: A design and permitting task order for the repair work was approved last week and those are expected to take 30 to 90 days depending on what permit the state will require. Then construction is expected to take 30 to 60 days.

From TDC agenda for Feb. 7 meeting:

I walked by it today and it looks like it is repaired and open!

Yes, I heard it had opened early. Went by today to check it out. It looks great!

It was open and packed on Sunday.
I think the county deserves an "atta boy" on this one.
Now if they could just get that empty lot next door.

It was open and packed on Sunday.
I think the county deserves an "atta boy" on this one.
Now if they could just get that empty lot next door.

Is that lot for sale? I think the county has all beachfront and bayfront property on the list for potential acquisition.

Here are some photos from this morning - it looks like our Ace Beach Ops team was able to re-use some of the old materials and rebuild it as it was.

Is that lot for sale? I think the county has all beachfront and bayfront property on the list for potential acquisition.

Surely destined to be a monster house.

Is that lot for sale? I think the county has all beachfront and bayfront property on the list for potential acquisition.

To my knowledge, it is not currently for sale. It was sold last year for 5M. I doubt the county will be acquiring it, but who knows...