WZEP AM 1460 First News Add-On Accident Update
331 Accident
An accident between two pick-up trucks that collided head-on near the south end of the Clyde B. Wells Bridge closed U.S. 331 over the bay for several hours yesterday evening and into the night. Emergency responders from the South Walton Fire District, Walton Sheriff?s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol worked the serious accident. The accident had one fatality at the scene and one person transported to the hospital.
The FHP says, around 5:30pm Sunday, a 1988 Nissan truck, driven by 40-year-old Daniel Fritz Edwards of Santa Rosa Beach, was traveling south on U.S. 331 at the center of the Clyde Wells Bridge. A second truck, a 1996 Dodge, driven by 49-year-old Jimmy Russell Manucy, also of Santa Rosa Beach, was traveling northbound. For an unknown reason, the first truck drove left of the centerline and into the northbound lane and struck the second truck. Both trucks rotated counter-clockwise and came to a rest blocking traffic, shutting down the roadway.
The FHP says Edwards, the driver of the first truck was not wearing a seat belt and drugs/alcohol tests are pending. He is listed as a fatality. The driver of the second truck, Manucy, is listed with critical injuries and also was not wearing a seat belt. Drug/alcohol tests are also pending for him. Charges are listed as pending.