Comments on: Five People, Including Two Young Children, Injured In Early Morning Hwy 97 Head-on Crash

By: ME

ME — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:03:36 +0000

There hasn’t been enough crashes on Highway 97 to warrant them putting up traffic lights! Yes, that is heavy, heavy, heavy sarcasm

By: Athena

Athena — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 20:52:52 +0000

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.

By: Voices in Pensacola

Voices in Pensacola — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:00:50 +0000

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.

By: Joe Day

Joe Day — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:20:53 +0000

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.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 12:27:05 +0000

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.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:55:03 +0000

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…..

By: Betina Tacoronte

Betina Tacoronte — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:20:37 +0000

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.

By: Bill L.

Bill L. — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:13:47 +0000

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

By: Just sayin

Just sayin — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:25:29 +0000

Put a concrete wall down centerline..that way these ding dongs hit concrete instead of someone else

By: anne

anne — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:56:55 +0000

How many drivers are looking down at their phones? Crossing the center line?