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Highway 97 Crash Claims Life Of 29-Year-Old Cantonment Man
September 12, 2025
A two-vehicle collision Friday morning on Highway 97 near Davisville claimed the life of a 29-year old Cantonment man.
A fully loaded dump truck and an SUV collided about a third of a mile south of Meadows Road shortly before 7 a.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the Cantonment man’s SUV was northbound on Highway 97 as the dump truck was traveling southbound when the SUV veered into the path of the dump truck. Troopers said the dump truck driver swerved in an attempt to avoid the crash. The dump truck overturned after the collision.
The Cantonment man was pronounced deceased on the scene, and the dump truck driver, a 62-year-old Pensacola man, was airlifted by AirCare 2 helicopter to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with minor injuries.
Highway 97 was closed for several hours for the crash investigation and to clean up tons of small gravel that spilled from the dump truck.
RELATED STORY: Multiple People Injured In Highway 97 Crash
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “Highway 97 Crash Claims Life Of 29-Year-Old Cantonment Man”
It’s not the road itself, it’s the people that travel that road that take unnecessary chances passing and speeding, and let’s not forget all the texting, if you’re looking at a cell phone and texting it only takes a split second or two to be in the other lane!
No road is inherently dangerous but there are road designs which are safer than others. Barriers between lanes separating oncoming traffic can reduce the danger of head-on collision. Wider lanes reduce sideswiping. Multiple lanes allow speed demons and turtles to share the road without rear-end collisions. Good drainage reduces hydroplaning.
All of these and more save lives and cost money.
Sorry for your loss and pain.
Loss of life is a tragic situation.
But the Highway itself never moves. It just sits there.
Us as drivers make the dangerous circumstances and struggle, or fail, to take responsibility for our actions.
Prayers for the young mans fiance and family.
Everyone complaining this road. I understand lots of wrecks but its not the roads fault. It’s the drivers. Even if police were on this road, police can’t prevent a wreck. All they can do is write tickets for speeding. And even if they get a ticket that won’t stop most people from speeding. Or doing stupid things.
when will people learn. it’s the drivers that cause crashes, not the roadway. from reading the article, seems like the road was doing it’s job, but the driver wasn’t doing his job. 97 has never claimed a life, it’s simply a strip of asphalt . nothing sinister about that, it doesn’t move or suddenly relocate itself. it’s the people operating the vehicles that are killing each other. put the blame where it belongs.
Too bad you can’t put speed bumps every mile marker
I am so very sorry for your family’s loss. I am saddened also that your daughter has lost the man she loves enough to spend her life with him. Please know that all are in my prayers.
Its crazy how everyone blames the highway..A highway is a highway its people who make it dangerous same as guns.
I’ts not just Hwy 97 Quintette Road (CR 184) is just as bad. it is all the roads on the north end. people know that FHP is short staffed and are not worried about getting a ticket. the state either needs to hire more troopers or sign a contract to pay the county to patrol state roads.
I dont like these accidents.. Im 59 and all my life its been an issue on these country roads. Even though Im an excellent driver and travel alot day to day, there are some spots on old 2 lane highways that are always going to be a little unsafe, and you don’t have to speed to be in a situation. You have to be extra particular though. Cars today are not made to make you drive better, esp. when they replace human instincts and response with AI and luxery gizmos. One use to have to be more aware and thoughtful to be a safe driver. My 2 cents. Thank you. Jesus touch these families.. Amen!!!
It wouldn’t stop all of the accidents but if the state would put in an alternating passing lane (a third lane) every so many miles, maybe some drivers would be willing to wait just a little longer to get to the third passing lane instead of taking a chance passing in a dangerous place.
Here’s the Thing! It’s NOT only a Law Enforcement problem! It’s an ENTITLED people Problem. If we ALL would obey the Laws we would not have as many poor souls loosing their lives. It’s a privilege to drive, NOT a right. Remember you have one job to do while driving and that’s to drive responsibly. At least try to do what’s right, even when no one is looking or even when they are. It’s called integrity, please drive like you are protecting someone you Love.
Some roads that have this problem create pass lanes on the right so that traffic can pass slower traffic without getting into oncoming traffic. It is too far to drive without being able to pass safely. They pass on the solid lines and going up a hill knowing they cannot see what they are meeting. If we cannot get 4 lanes why not do this to save lives. If they did a study they would find out it is too dangerous to continue without a solution.
The driver of this vehicle was a hard working man ,a great father to his kids and a great friend. He was and always will be a light to us and an example of how we should be as human beings and how we should treat each other . My heart has been aching all day for his family and loved ones may he forever rest in peace and be catching the biggest bass heaven can come up with for this man to enjoy. He was like a little brother to me he will always be missed heaven gained another angel. Please everyone pray for this man’s family they need all the support they can get
Cassandra Posey I am sorry for the loss of your son in law. (Yes I know he and her daughter were not married yet). Prayers for both of your families as well as the other driver.
I trave that road to go to Pensacola or Milton and it is horrible. Last year there was a police chase that went thru Atmore and down 97. Thankfully I was stopped getting gas when they all blew by. I may be like another poster and start taking 29 all the way down.
TRAVELED THIS ROAD FOR 50 YEARS AND IF YA DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT IT IS NOT DANGEROUS. EXCEPT THE OTHER DRIVERS.
The ones of you hollering something needs to be done this road is so dangerous ummm you’re the same ones who have a problem with guns ! Try really hard and be accountable! Its the drivers has nothing to do with road! What do you suggest speed bumps all the way down it lets be adults practice accountability for your driving !
Maybe spending more than 2 hours of traffic enforcement as a political stunt would benefit. How about we get some aggressive traffic enforcement in this county? We are tired of our loved ones dying.
Too many wrecks and fatalities on what many call Wooden Cross Highway
This was my daughter’s fiance and we are very heartbroken. This accident took a very humble and beautiful soul. We wasn’t there to know what took place but what I can say is this hwy is and always have been a dangerous hwy. Please be respectful for those of us that are grieving
@Dustin i say the same. I forbid my family to go on 97 someone needs to do something I tried to Google how many have died on 97 It won’t give me a number says contact FHP WE need a petition or something it’s so sad… praying for all the families
It don’t matter what speed your driving if can’t stay in your lane….
Derek, I don’t know if they were from Escambia or if they were brought in from other areas but there were NUMEROUS state troopers escorting two large tanks north on US 29 about the time this accident happened. There was also a county deputy vehicle going north at a high rate of speed with lights and siren. Just speculation but they could have been responding to this accident.
Everybody complaining about the speeders on hwy 97 yet from what I’ve read in this article speed didn’t have anything to do it. I drive that road almost everyday and I drive 55-60mph. It’s rare that I get passed by, it does happen but it’s rare. I come up behind people driving 45 in the 55mph way more often. Maybe, and hear me out, if those people would drive the speed limit maybe the others wouldn’t be in such a hurry. After sitting in a line of traffic for 30 minutes driving 10mph under the speed limit I understand why some of these people try to pass whenever the can.
2 wrecks in an hour’s time resulting in a fatality.
Apparently, the Sheriff’s Department’s elite traffic unit didn’t find anything as they sat at the Dollar General store parking lot after rush hour.
Maybe we need to get our state rep and senator to help out with FHP?
The Highway Patrol is understaffed and unable to target these high crash percentage areas. Twenty-five years ago there were usually 5 or 6 Troopers working at any given time, now there is only 2 or three max. They even changed to 12 hour overlapping shifts in an effort to provide more road coverage during peak traffic times. This is a Legislative Problem as no new Trooper positions have been added in twenty years even as Florida’s population has nearly doubled.
I agree with John. I’ve seen it too many times. If you do the speed limit, traffic backs up behind you and impatient drivers will risk everything to pass and often not just teens but grown adults who should know better.
People would slow down and drive with caution things like this would not happen. I’ve been doing 60 and people pass me in very dangerous areas where they can’t see oncoming traffic and they don’t care. When that happens I slow down so they can pass me faster. When people drive like maniacs then people will get killed.
I’ve been passed when I’m doing the speed limit on a hill before hwy 164 they don’t care and they are crazy and putting people at risk because they’re in a hurry to go somewhere.
I travel this road frequently – many passing on double lines and on curves – no police presence. FHP and ESO need to patrol this road – they would make double their quota on tickets and perhaps save a few lives in the process.
Hwy 97 is a state Rd and I talked to a FHP officer about this very thing. He said they were very understaffed for our area
HWY 97 is full of impatient drivers who can’t wait to go over the yellow lines to pass others recklessly – even crossing the double yellow lines on curves and hills with no view of oncoming traffic. It has gotten worse the last few years. We need higher Sheriffs presence on that road. people need to start feeling it in their wallets $$$ before they kill themselves or others including teens going back and forth to school or work. The other bad thing is people doing rolling stops (or no stops!) from Hwy 4 turning unto Hwy 97; then they do 20 mph while traffic behind them is gaining on them at 55-60 mph! It seems no one was taught to come to full stops at Stop signs or red blinking lights or to properly gauge the speed of oncoming traffic which has the right of way.
So very sad.
It’s sad seeing these articles, 97 is claiming way to many lives. People need to be more mindful of the dangers they’re putting others and themselves in trying to shave a few minutes off their commute.
Chip simmons we need help on hwy 97 and both hwy 99’s north and south please sir.. This is a weekly thing up here.