Emergency vehicles on 331??
- Thread starter dmarie
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Don't know. Is traffic blocked?
Was just by there. Someone driving a boat hit the west side of the north bridge and was ejected. They cannot find him. The emergency workers are trying to keep rubber-neckers out of the area and are getting a little grumpy.Also, traffic is down to one lane in the area of the new Freeport Post Office.
One presumed dead in Freeport boat wreck
Comments 3 | Recommend 0
July 20, 2009 - 4:51 PM
Mona Moore
Daily News
FREEPORT — A man has been presumed dead after falling from a boat that hit the U.S. Highway 331 bridge Monday at around 1:30 p.m.
The name of the man, believed to be in his late-60s to mid-70s, has not been released. Though not a resident of the area, the man is said to be an annual visitor to the Freeport area.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation that also involves the U.S. Coast Guard, Freeport Fire and Rescue dive team, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office dive team and Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
"They are all involved in what has now become a recovery effort," said Mike Gurspan, public information officer of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Mark Hollinhead said he would keep officers on the water until the missing man is found. Because of accounts from witnesses, divers will also remain in the water.
"Witnesses observed him go underwater but didn’t see him surface," Hollinhead said.
The boater was on a 16-foot Key West pleasure boat with another man and a 12-year-old girl when the boat hit pilings under the bridge. The man and child were flown to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Neither of them had life-threatening injuries and investigators had not interviewed them yet.
Hollinhead said damage to the boat suggested all three passengers were ejected on impact.
"He was definitely up on a plane when he struck the bridge," Hollinhead said. A boat is said to be planing when it is going fast enough to rise up on top of the water.
The accident is still under investigation. The boat has been removed and is being photographed by investigators.
There was no damage to the bridge, which was struck on its western side. It remains open to traffic.
Comments 3 | Recommend 0
July 20, 2009 - 4:51 PM
Mona Moore
Daily News
FREEPORT — A man has been presumed dead after falling from a boat that hit the U.S. Highway 331 bridge Monday at around 1:30 p.m.
The name of the man, believed to be in his late-60s to mid-70s, has not been released. Though not a resident of the area, the man is said to be an annual visitor to the Freeport area.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation that also involves the U.S. Coast Guard, Freeport Fire and Rescue dive team, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office dive team and Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
"They are all involved in what has now become a recovery effort," said Mike Gurspan, public information officer of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Mark Hollinhead said he would keep officers on the water until the missing man is found. Because of accounts from witnesses, divers will also remain in the water.
"Witnesses observed him go underwater but didn’t see him surface," Hollinhead said.
The boater was on a 16-foot Key West pleasure boat with another man and a 12-year-old girl when the boat hit pilings under the bridge. The man and child were flown to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Neither of them had life-threatening injuries and investigators had not interviewed them yet.
Hollinhead said damage to the boat suggested all three passengers were ejected on impact.
"He was definitely up on a plane when he struck the bridge," Hollinhead said. A boat is said to be planing when it is going fast enough to rise up on top of the water.
The accident is still under investigation. The boat has been removed and is being photographed by investigators.
There was no damage to the bridge, which was struck on its western side. It remains open to traffic.
I just came through there; traffic moving okay, but two fire engines, at least six deputy cars, EMS "bus" and several sheriff trucks still there..also, an emergency water vehicle with blue lights flashing in the water.
It looked pretty surreal...
It looked pretty surreal...