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Five People, Including Two Young Children, Injured In Early Morning Hwy 97 Head-on Crash
September 7, 2026
Five people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle head-on crash early Monday morning south of Walnut Hill.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a Nissan Rogue driven by a 23-year-old McDavid man was northbound on Highway 97 about a half mile south of Howell Road when he crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by a 37-year-old Uriah, Alabama, man at about 5:00 a.m.
There were four occupants in the pickup truck — the 37-year-old driver, a 31-year-old female passenger and two children, girls ages 3 and 6. Both adults and the 3-year-old were airlifted in three different medical helicopters to Pensacola hospitals as trauma alerts. The driver of the Nissan and the 4-year-old were also transported to the hospital.
The crash completely closed Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill for hours.
FHP said its investigation is continuing.
For additional photos, click here.
The Walnut Hill, McDavid, and Molino stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
23 Responses to “Five People, Including Two Young Children, Injured In Early Morning Hwy 97 Head-on Crash”
There hasn’t been enough crashes on Highway 97 to warrant them putting up traffic lights! Yes, that is heavy, heavy, heavy sarcasm
That highway needs light’s. You get blinded by the light’s of oncoming traffic coming around that corner amd especially at 60mph. That same stretch claims a lot of people. If they had light’s you don’t need such high beams on.
My sympathies to the survivors and their families. No criticism is needed regarding fault or blame.
Concerning the highway, there is no inexpensive way out. 4-laning an existing road is an expensive and disrupting proposition because right-of-way acquisition, including purchases of homes, businesses, churches, and farmland would be required. Every driveway, cross street , etc would have to be modified.
Probably the best solution would be to build a limited access toll road that would extend from the new Beulah I-10 interchange to I-65. In addition, extend the Orange Beach express (near Buc-ees) to the toll road, connecting near Enon. Let the Florida Turnpike Authority operate the Florida segment, and Alabama would need to figure out how to operate their portion.
But it does absolutely nothing other than reduce traffic on SR 97. But for the folks wanting to drive 80 mph or more, it gives them a better and safer road to travel.
take the money it would cost to 4 lane and hire more deputies to patrol hwy 97. double the ticket fines. 4 lanes will not fix stupid.
A four lane highway would stop so many of these head on crashes that keep on happening, I really do not understand the folks who think it wouldn’t help. Would it prevent every accident? No, but a 30 foot median gives a driver much more reaction time than a 2 foot double line seems to me.. And to the folks who ALWAYS blame speed, two vehicles traveling well below speed limit colliding head on are STILL going to be deadly. So by saying speed is the problem and the only answer is more enforcement actually just lends itself to more accidents in the long run.
A well designed and maintained road can reduce driver error problems, especially by eliminating head-on situations and careless driving due to impatient drivers unwilling to not drive over the listed speed limit. It doesn’t end all the problems but definitely some.
Lest I be considered heartless, I’m sorry for all injured and wish them well. I’m just thinking here about the next injury and the next and the next and…..
That was my grandson in that crash. I live in Colorado and will be flying out today. I do not lnow all the specifics or details yet, but prayers,are needed for all. He just got out of a 5 hour surgery. Please pray for everyone involved.
Rumble strips would help first hopefully all of the injured will recover if it was not a medical issues that caused the crossing into the wrong lane the driver should be charged with everything the weak laws will allow. People have to be held accountable for incidents like this
Put a concrete wall down centerline..that way these ding dongs hit concrete instead of someone else
How many drivers are looking down at their phones? Crossing the center line?
I wish FDOT would add rumble strips to the center line during the paving project. I think these have made a difference elsewhere. Too many tragedies contine on this road.
I disagree with a number of the responses. Four lane with median would prevent at least some of these head-on collisions. We don’t know if passing was involved (I kind of doubt it given the time of day) or if the northbound driver merely drifted out of their lane. I no longer drive this road, but it was absolutely horrible then for the reasons many already listed. Four lanes (with a directional) divider would at least spare a number of lives and then 97 could drop back from extremely high mania to only Hwy-29 levels!
I hate driving on this road last time I was on this road I was driving 60 and people was passing me like I was sitting still its like people have no fear for there on lives
Prayers for all. Roads are not the problem. If it becomes 4 lanes you can name it North Escambia Speedway.
4 lanes are not the answer . It states he crossed over center line its not the freaking road people its the drivers . Slow down do the speed limit and quit passing on double yellow lines . Now this wreck was caused by someone crossing the center line no where would 4 lanes fix that. Some people need common sense
That surely should be a higher priority than the 6-lane racetrack they are going to make out of US 29.
Four lane it and then call it NASCAR 97..NOT!.
DON’T CROSS OVER THE LINE!
comes to mind, yet speed might be there to. This is why I dont travel 97 for any reason. Windcreek should invest in making 97 four lanes
It’s not the road obviously it’s the driver !! May god bless. Each and everyone of the people involved
Four lanes will NOT fix the problem. Inattention, speeding , being under the influence, mechanical error and medical issues happen no matter how many lanes. Get off the cell phones and stop trying to pass. Pay attention and slow down.
Wow! Four Lanes will not fix bad driving, speeding, medically induced accidents or DUI. Prayers
Without speculation or judgment … Praying for everyone involved
I once again say.. 4 lane the damn road…all that money wasted on repaying has not saved one life or stopped one accident.