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Man, 96, Dies Following Crash While Turning Into Pensacola Blvd. Walmart
May 8, 2025
A 96-year-old Pensacola man has passed away after a crash Wednesday morning on Pensacola Boulevard in front of Walmart.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man was southbound on Pensacola Boulevard when he failed to yield the right of way and turned his SUV in front of a car that was headed north. The car struck the passenger side of the elderly man’s SUV.
The man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The 33-year-old female driver of the car was seriously injured in the 8:15 a.m. crash and was transported to a local hospital.
Further details were not released by FHP.
Pictured: A 96-year-old man died after attempting to turn into entrance to Palafox Square and Walmart on Pensacola Boulevard on Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Man, 96, Dies Following Crash While Turning Into Pensacola Blvd. Walmart”
Lots of excuses on here regarding age, cost, convenience, etc, etc. As a senior myself, I can tell you straight away that driving in certain areas is a hazard. With age related mackular degeneration, night blindness, slowed reaction times, a host of diagnosed and undiagnosed medical conditions, driving is a death ride. Don’t forget the civil engineers that designed local traffic patterns like a Universal Studios roller coaster. With all that, let’s throw in the younger generation that all think the law doesn’t apply to them and they’re all F-18 qualified. A 96 yr old senior should not be driving. Period. If he/she needs to travel that badly – call Uber. If he/she needs to go shopping – call Insta-cart. I agree seniors should be road tested more frequently. Nobody wants to sit in the DMV, semi annually would be sufficient. No more excuses. Innocents are dying needlessly. Just DO it. My regards to the victims family. RIP.
@Km……
Stats means everything, your statement made no common sense.
I’d much rather ride with my mother in law at 86 than a teenager of ANY age. In fact, Pensacola has a problem with many drivers. I’d really rather be with a pack of Lemurs, able to look in every direction at all times around here. No telling when someone who gives no poops is in a hurry. THOSE are the people who need to sit in a jail cell with a high bond and extra citations to take home with them. My blessings to the family of this gentleman.
Face it: Pensacola drivers of all ages are some of the worst drivers. When I asked my insurance company what I could do to reduce my premiums he said “Move”. Typical example last February I turned on to Muldoon Road and almost came to a complete stop behind a car whose driver must have been lost and was looking for a street sign. They eventually turned on to King Street when some stud in a white pickup with a vanity fishing tag decided to pass everyone on a double yellow line on a curve. An oncoming car slammed on their brakes and steered to the shoulder to avoid a collision as the truck sped down the road barely stopping at the 4-way intersection. As it turned out the truck was stopped at the traffic light at Saufley and Mobile by the time I got there in spite of his efforts. That could have ended a lot worse but it happens too often.
@jj your statistics mean nothing with the huge decrease in life through those ages there bud.when is the last time you looked at your 90 yo grandparent or great grandparent and thought “damn that’s a spring chicken right there” and actually think they are ok to drive? And its a little both ways, people not paying attention and caring for others… and being too old to operate a motor vehicle
To you folks condemning age, I am betting there are a lot more wrecks involving cell phone use than age. Companies should be required to make cell phones inoperable when moving above say 20mph. Just my thoughts as one of those elderly folks.
mnon, perhaps your friend should have reported it his/her vehicle stolen.
Question for mnon, you say that any driver over 80 should be tested every other month, who will be paying for this testing? The 80+ year old on a fixed income or the taxpayers?
Just a sad situation .
Age has nothing to due with this, he made a mistake, possibly misjudged the speed of the approaching vehicle. He may have been 96, but he was a good driver, better than most in escambia county where we take our lives in our own hands, because most routinely run red lights, text while driving. I knew this Man, was a good driver and a good man.
Sorry to the victims family. This particular turn to get into wallmart from 29 has always been dangerous. You have the traffic from nine mile and 29 inbound with drivers crossing six lanes of traffic. Place a traffic ligth or just completely terminate that turn altogether. Traffic can turn at the next ligth avoiding fatalities like this. Similar incidents have occurred on 297a 97 one lane pine forest and many other roads with extreme poor infrastructure, and safety.
To all of the nice people on here talking about seniors being to old to drive. Bless you all you will hopefully grow to be a senior one day and I pray you have family members who can take care of your every need. But some folks don’t have any help. Maybe you all could start a group to help these people in their old age and you would be helping them and the community. It’s what Jesus asked us to do take care and love each other.
Florida law authorizes any person, physician or agency to report an applicant or licensed driver who may not safely operate a motor vehicle due to a medical condition. These referrals must be based on medical conditions or symptoms that could affect safe driving and not the age of the driver.
The report must be made in writing, giving the full name, date of birth, address, and a full description of the alleged physical or mental disability that could affect the driving ability of any person over 15 years of age. If information is missing or not included it will invalidate the form.
Medical reporting is confidential under section 322.126, Florida Statutes, and no civil or criminal action may be brought against any physician, person, or agency for providing this information. You can find form HSMV 72190 at http://www.flhsmv.gov
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/72190.pdf
I agree, 96 year old should not be driving and lots of 80 year old should no be driving, you see this happen and immediately everyone asked ,who is suppose to be watching him.. He was definitely the cause of the accident but the many accidents you see today are certainly not from elderly drivers it’s young drivers from 18 to 40 who are texting and driving, let’s stay focused on the real problem..
@mnon
Really, age has nothing to do if other vehical was speeding. Reaction time may be slow, but more people less than40 are involved in fatal accidents more than those over 70.
after a certain age you should be evaluated more often, ie taking a driving test with the DMV. At 90+ that should be every month if you want to drive. At 80+ every other month. These people still think they can keep doing what they have always done, some still can but the vast majority can not. Yes they may get to the store when they do but they are gambling every time and the odds are greatly against them. My buddy’s grandmother just wiped out going to Walmart a few months ago. He lives right next door and is there to help her. Yet she refuses to ask and just came into his house while he was napping, got the keys to the car, and drove off. About a mile away failed to observe a stop sign and hit a tree. She was injured too bad and she didn’t kill anyone, thankfully. I hope the female driver is okay, and understands she was not at fault and should look into who was supposed to be looking after this guy and or just sue the drivers estate for damages.