Accident on 331

Unofficially, I am hearing that the road has been cleared, but there is one fatality.

Road not open!!!

Unofficially, I am hearing that the road has been cleared, but there is one fatality.

Unfortunately, I listened to the user above that was posted at 4:13. It is now 5:43 and the road is not cleared. I REPEAT>>>THE ROAD IS NOT CLEARED! The WCSO is directing traffic through Chat Holley to go around either by Panama City or Destin. I was told by the officer that the road would possibly remain closed for another 2 hours. PLease plan your time and route around this tragedy.

I called the police to find out. Basically, the accident was right north of the bridge, so there will be no traffic going through for the next couple of hours. You can get to the north entrance of Bay Grove Road headed south on 331, but there's no telling how long it will take due to all the traffic.

Hope that helps! Just means that I might as well get more work done and forstall the horrible traffic.

You beat me to it!

I was out roaming Sowal and thought it was just people trying to turn left onto 331 from CH that was holding things up - then was surprised to see the cops directing traffic and telling everyone the bridge was closed.

Traffic is backing up down Chat Holley and it's a parking lot all the way to 98.

Now the FHP website is reporting another accident in Freeport at 20 and 331. It didn't specify if it was 331 North (the old part of the road) or 331 South (the new part of the road). Anyone hear anything about that one? Trying to figure out if I can leave work at Gulf Place to get home to DeFuniak!

Never mind. It's gone from the website now!

The wreck at 20 and 331 was clearing up about a half hour ago. We sat on the bridge for almost an hour and turned around on our own. Prayers are with all involved.

Update from WZEP

This was emailed 1 hour ago.

Listen to the Mp3 file for Today's News Segment 0 http://www.wzep1460.com/Friday%20Segment%200.mp3

Accident

An accident around 3:30pm Thursday afternoon between a dump truck and an SUV sent several to the hospital and one had to be set free. The accident also took the life of at least one. The patients included small children. The accident happened between the dump truck and an SUV on Highway 331 south near Bay Grove Road, just north of the bridge. Emergency responders were called the scene with a possible entrapment. When they arrived, they found one individual entrapped and had to call for additional equipment to free the patient. AirHeart 3 and Gulf-Flight were both dispatched. The highway was tied up for several hours, delaying many going north from work from getting home.

Freeport Fire and Walton County Fire-Rescue were the main responders. Animal control was also needed at the scene. The FHP is investigating and we should have more information later.

As the accident tied up the roadway and the Clyde B. Wells bridge, after almost 2 hours the news came that the road would be closed for another hour. Like accidents in the past, after a long time of traffic tied up and people coming down the roadway before being notified, the drivers were turning around on the bridge. After two hours, a request came in to have an officer go south of the accident and let people know to turn around before traveling all the way up the road. You might remember past accident involving the bridge and other roads where the road was blocked for multiple hours. One accident where a truck went over the bridge had drivers coming all the way down from Highway 20 before being told the roadway was and would be closed and having to turn around. This time, after two hours of people turning around, the FHP requested a Sheriff deputy to go south and let people know about the blocked road before getting on the bridge.

They are not stopping people who are southbound on 331and 20 (which would make the most sense) in Freeport, but instead have an officer stopping them farther up on 331 just south of Hwy 3280. So then they either have to wait or turn around and go all the way back to 20 to detour, I guess.

Any word on how much longer until the traffic starts moving across the bridge again?

I was just given the names of who may have been in the wreck and my family prayers go out to all. Not prepared to release names until we have confirmation. This is such a Small town that it seems every time there is an accident you end up knowing the parties involved.

I just got the answer for myself about traffic moving by calling the SO substation. Apparently they've opened the road back up.

Prayers to the family(ies) involved from here too. I am anxious every time my family is on that stretch of road.

OK, sorry that my source(s) were wrong about 331 being closed. We had made several phone calls, as virtually all of the other employees in our building, save for two or three, live north of the bridge. The FHP site at that time said proceed with caution. When we left work 331 was not backed up, and there was some southbound traffic, so I had no way of knowing I'd been misinformed.

Using binoculars, traffic did appear to be moving across the bridge a little while ago, VERY slowly.

And I was about to point out to Evangeline that 3280 is actually a very good detour, but then I thought before I typed (rare for me) and that would be only if you are going north. I guess one could take 3280 to 20 to head east to 79, but you'd be much farther ahead if you knew about it at 331 & 20.

In any event, prayers to the families of all involved...

I just got the answer for myself about traffic moving by calling the SO substation. Apparently they've opened the road back up.

Prayers to the family(ies) involved from here too. I am anxious every time my family is on that stretch of road.

My husband is southbound at top of the bridge and says the traffic is moving at 7:40 pm.

My prayers go out to them as well. That stretch make me anxious too.

Got on to post but others beat me to it by the time I was home. Traffic is going through now, although was still backed up headed south for a bit.

Come to find out, my husband was only a few cars behind the accident before it happened and saw the first cop arrive at the scene. And as I was driving, I saw the SUV on the flatbead heading up 331. It looked like a head on collision. My prayers go out to the family of all those in the vehicles and for a fast recovery for all involved.

This area knows about the power of prayer. From the word I am getting from friends of family prayers will be needed and appreciated.

My prayers are with them all.

I was just given the names of who may have been in the wreck and my family prayers go out to all. Not prepared to release names until we have confirmation. This is such a Small town that it seems every time there is an accident you end up knowing the parties involved.

Bobby, Do we have confirmation yet? I am worried.

Freeport woman dies in three-car crash - News - The News Herald

A Freeport woman died and her family members were injured in a three-car crash in Walton County on Thursday afternoon.

Gina D. Carter, 30, died in a wreck after the SUV in which she was a passenger struck a dump truck on U.S. 331 near the intersection with South Bay Grove Road, according to a crash report from the the Florida Highway Patrol.


Lori-Ann Sivley, 40, of Freeport was driving a 2004 Chevrolet 4-door northbound on U.S. 331 at about 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, when she attempted a left turn onto South Bay Grove Road, according to the report.


A 2000 Ford SUV driven by Christopher Carter, 31, of Freeport was traveling southbound on U.S. 331. In the vehicle with him were passengers Gina D. Carter, Christopher Carter, age 2, and Isabella Carter, 7.


A third vehicle, a 1998 Freightliner dumptruck driven by Johnnie Mack Roberts of DeFuniak Springs, 48, was traveling northbound on U.S. 331 behind Sivley's car.


Sivley did not see Carter's SUV approaching and attempted a left turn in front of the SUV, according to the report. Carter tried to steer to the left to travel around Sivley, but the right front of the SUV struck the right rear of Sivley's car. The SUV veered off to the left into the northbound lane and into the path of the dump truck.


Roberts tried to steer to the right to avoid Carter's SUV, but the front of the dump truck struck the right front of the SUV, the report said. Both vehicles came to final rest straddling the northbound lane and the east paved shoulder of U.S. 331, with the SUV facing south and the dumptruck facing north, connected to each other.


Sivley pulled off onto the west shoulder of U.S. 331. She had no injuries, the report said. She was wearing a seatbelt.


Gina D. Carter's injuries were fatal, according to the report. She was wearing a seatbelt.
Christopher Carter, driver of the SUV, sufferred critical injuries and was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He was wearing a seatbelt, the report said. The two children in the SUV were also transported to Sacred Heart Hospital; Christopher had minor injuries and Isabella had serious injuries, the report said. Both were wearing seatbelts.


Roberts was wearing a seatbelt and had minor injuries, the report said.


Charges are pending in the crash investigation, the report said.

Oh no. My thoughts are with all involved.

OMG! How tragic! Is this the same Chris Carter who used to have a car detailing company, AND who also lost his then-wife in an accident years ago? Please say no.

Prayers and hugs to this family.

How tragic. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

OMG! How tragic! Is this the same Chris Carter who used to have a car detailing company, AND who also lost his then-wife in an accident years ago? Please say no.

Prayers and hugs to this family.

I just typed almost the exact same thing as it was the first thing that popped in my mind. Her name was Summer if that helps anyone find out.

I believe this is the same Chris Carter that had the car cleaning business who lost his first wife at Peach creek and 98 and who just lost his father and step mother at 98 and Hewitt.

I can not even imagine the pain he must be going through right now.