FHP Says New Evidence Indicates Different Wrong-Way Driver Caused Fatal I-110 Crash
April 29, 2023
The Florida Highway Patrol says new evidence “strongly suggests” that a female driver was at fault in an April 22 fatal wrong-way crash on I-110.
Following the crash, troopers said a 38-year old Escambia County man was driving his car northbound in the southbound lanes of the elevated portion of I-110 near Garden Street at 4:03 a.m.. His vehicle collided with another car driven south by a 24-year old Pace woman.
The 24-year old woman was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The 38-year old man was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Friday, FHP said that further investigation suggests it was the Pace woman traveling the wrong-way, and the Pensacola man was traveling the correct direction.
“Both families have been informed that new evidence has been discovered that may strongly suggest the female driver was actually traveling in the wrong direction and not the deceased,” FHP Lt. Jason King told NorthEscambia.com on Friday.
He went on to explain how their determination changed.
“When the press release was originally pushed out, that was a preliminary investigation based on what we had at the time of arrival on scene,” King said. “Our traffic homicide investigators are dedicated men and women who focus on their investigations. They’re very thorough and focus on all evidence receive which is why we take a little bit of extra time to complete a traffic homicide report. As a neutral party in investigation, our job is to ensure all details, and all evidence is received, reviewed and vetted as we continue our investigation for a final conclusion of what actually occurred. Our goal is to find closure for all that have been involved.”
The FHP investigation is continuing.
Ragsdale Homers As Northview Drops Regular Season Finale To Crestview
April 29, 2023
The Crestview Bulldogs downed Northview 5-1 Friday night in Crestview.
Chloe Ragsdale had a homer for the Chiefs over the center field fence for Northview’s only run as she went 1-4. Jamison Gilman, Emma Gilmore and Makala Golson were all 2-3 at the plate.
Gilman was in the circle for two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out two. Emma Gilmore threw four innings, giving five runs, three hits and striking out four.
The game wrapped up the regular season for the Chiefs (13-11) as they move into the district playoffs next week.
Pictured: Northview’s Chloe Ragdale hit a homerun Friday at Crestview. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Monteverde Shines Again As Blue Wahoos Win Third Straight
April 29, 2023
Patrick Monteverde continued his dominant start to the season on Friday night, twirling 7.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 6-0 for their first three-game winning streak of the season.
Monteverde (W, 3-0) has now allowed only one earned run over his first 26.0 innings for a miniscule ERA of 0.35. The Blue Wahoos pitching staff has not allowed a run in 20.0 consecutive frames dating back to the seventh inning of Wednesday’s win.
After a scoreless first three innings, Victor Mesa Jr. got the Blue Wahoos on the board with a three-run homer off Cole Wilcox (L, 0-1) in the top of the fourth. Dane Myers led off the fifth with a triple, and scored on a Nasim Nuñez sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-0.
Joe Rizzo blasted a two-run homer in the seventh to close the scoring, and Myers helped preserve the shutout with a strong throw from left field in the bottom of the inning to cut down Ronny Simon attempting to score Montgomery’s first run.
Josan Méndez and Sean Reynolds worked the final two innings out of Pensacola’s bullpen, helping the Blue Wahoos draw to within 2.0 games of the first-place Biscuits.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Saturday evening.
by Erik Bremer, photo courtesy Blue Wahoos
Four Displaced After Fire Involving Exploding Ammo And Flammables Damages Home
April 28, 2023
Flammables and exploding ammunition reportedly contributed to a fire that heavily damaged a home just north of East Kingsfield Road Friday morning.
The fire was reported about 8:50 a.m. in the 2800 block of Silent Wood Drive. Firefighters arrived to find the home’s garage and a car in the driveway fully involved in fire. Callers to 911 described hearing explosions coming from the garage .
Escambia County Fire Rescue said that ammunition and other flammables in the garage contributed to the explosions.
The fire was extinguished by 9:30 a.m. The exact cause of the blaze was under investigation.
The American Red Cross was called to assist four occupants that were displaced by the fire.
Pictured: A fire heaving damaged a home and destroyed a car Friday morning on Silent Wood Drive. Photos from WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Accused NWE Little League Treasurer Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud, Grand Theft
April 28, 2023
The former treasurer of the Northwest Escambia Little League has pleaded not guilty.
Paula Star Pugh, 48, was charged with grand theft $10,000 to $20,000 and fraud under $20,000. Both charges are third degree felonies. She was released on a $2,500 bond 22 minutes after surrendering at the Escambia County Jail on April 17.
A not guilty plea and a waiver of appearance at a scheduled May 12 arraignment was filed this week on Pugh’s behalf by her attorneys.
White was accused of fraudulent transactions using the NWE bank account totalling $16, 977.87.
According to a warrant affidavit, the transactions included numerous cash ATM withdrawals from an Atmore bank; purchases from Shell Oil and Papa John’s Pizza in Tampa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Goods Online; and eight checks payable to “cash” that were signed by Pugh totaling $9,226. The transactions are detailed in the image below.
RELATED STORY: NWE Little League Treasurer Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud
Editor’s note: Northwest Escambia Little League is not affiliated with Northwest Escambia (NWE) Football & Cheer at Bradberry Park.
Escambia Extension Nutrition Educator Chinesa Sunday Retires After 40 Years
April 28, 2023
Escambia County Extension EFNEP Educator Chinesa Sunday has retired after 40 years of service.
“Chinesa, thank you for your service for over 40 years,” Escambia Extension said. “Your knowledge and expertise has helped tens-of-thousands of children across Escambia County live healthier and happier lives. You will be missed. Best wishes always”
EFNEP, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, is the nation’s first nutrition education program for low-income populations and remains at the forefront of nutrition education efforts to reduce nutrition insecurity of low-income families and youth today. EFNEP uses education to support participants’ efforts toward self-sufficiency, nutritional health, and well-being. EFNEP combines hands-on learning, applied science, and program data to ensure program effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability.
In February, she was honored for her lengthy career by the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball Presents Annual Awards Named For Former Aggies
April 28, 2023
Tate High School Baseball has presented three annual awards named for men who have played at Tate and impacted the program and people by showing some combination of moral character, athleticism, excellent work ethic and high academic achievements.
Ethan McAnally received the Travis Fryman Scholarship Award. Brayden Noble received the Chris Moorehead Award, and Drew Reaves received the Trace Penton Award.
Pictured: (L-R) Ethan McAnally, Brayden Nobile and Drew Reaves. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fitterer Dominates In Debut, Johnston Stays Hot In 5-0 Wahoos Win
April 28, 2023
Evan Fitterer worked 6.0 scoreless, one-hit innings in his Double-A debut and Troy Johnston had a multi-homer game for the second day in a row as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Montgomery Biscuits on Thursday by a score of 5-0.
Fitterer (W, 1-0), added to the Blue Wahoos roster on Tuesday, fanned eight batters and coaxed a pair of clutch double plays to keep the Biscuits off the scoreboard. He outdueled Sean Hunley (L, 1-1), who had allowed just one run over his first three starts but came out on the losing end of another strong effort.
Johnston, who hit a pair of home runs and drove in six runs in Wednesday’s blowout win over the Biscuits, hit solo home runs in the second and seventh as part of a 3-for-3 night.
In the ninth, Griffin Conine provided insurance with a bases-loaded, two-run double. Jefry Yan (S, 1) got the final six outs, five via the strikeout, to lock down Pensacola’s second conseucutive win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Friday evening in Montgomery.
written by Erik Bremer and file photo/Blue Wahoos
Local Firefighter Receives Kidney Transplant After Two-Year Wait
April 27, 2023
After more than two years on the waiting list, a local firefighter has received a kidney transplant.
We first introduced our readers to Cody Green in 2021 as he anxiously awaited a kidney. He finally got the call, underwent transplant surgery last Friday, and is recovering at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.
Cody is a Florida Forest Service wildland firefighter, and he is a volunteer firefighter at the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help Cody and his family while they are out of work during a long and extensive recovery period, according to GoFundMe.
He suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a serious condition in which scar tissue develops in parts of the kidney, and it can lead to full kidney failure.
After his diagnosis, he was at 40% kidney function, and doctors thought he would be able to live without dialysis or need of transplant until he was older in his 40s or 50s. But by mid July 2021, he was at just 7%.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
NAS Pensacola Open To The Public For Two Long Weekends In May
April 27, 2023
Naval Air Station Pensacola will open to the public for two long weekends in May.
Public access to the air station May 4 through 7 and May 11 through 14 will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway. Areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola include the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Fort Barrancas. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide our community with the opportunity to visit the areas of public interest onboard NAS Pensacola while ensuring the safety of our service members, civilian employees and their families,” said Capt. Terry Shashaty, NAS Pensacola commanding officer.
Foreign nationals will not be allowed access. Non-DoD cardholders operating vehicles with trailers will not be allowed to enter. Access will be dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.
The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:
- No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include concealed weapon permit holders)
- No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
- No alcoholic beverages allowed
- No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
- Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
- All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks
- No visitors with boats or boat trailers.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right of the card.