Graffiti Bridge Painted In Memory Of Tate Student Bradley Ellertson, 17

May 27, 2024

The Graffiti Bridge in Pensacola was painted Sunday in memory of Bradley Ellertson, a 17-year old Tate High School student who died January 26, 2024, when a semi-truck collided with a Kia Soul at the intersection of County Road 196 and Highway 29 in Molino.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the Kia Soul, a 16-year old female from Pensacola, was traveling eastbound on Highway 196 when she stopped at the stop sign at Highway 29 but failed to yield to an oncoming semi-truck. The driver and a 16-year old passenger from Gulf Breeze were seriously injured.

Ellertson was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Bradley attended Tate as freshman, went to high school in Arizona as a sophomore while living with family in Mesa and returned to Tate for the 2023-24 school year. He played football for the Tate Aggies during his freshman year,, and played his sophomore year in Arizona.

Sunday, friends, and family members joined local artist Rod Leisure is painting The Graffiti Bridge.

For more photos, click here.

“Live Like Bradley”, the artwork stated.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Graffiti Bridge Painted In Memory Of Tate Student Bradley Ellertson, 17”

  1. Debbie on May 28th, 2024 11:08 am

    Doc .. that’s good to hear that in the end the truth was shown.

  2. Doc on May 28th, 2024 8:32 am

    @Debbie
    The semi driver did not lose her job as a result of this accident once it was shown it was unavoidable on her part.

  3. Debbie on May 27th, 2024 9:54 pm

    Balance I meant the Kia driver .
    Roger I never mentioned the semi driver at all. But since you did I’ll just say I feel she was done wrong as well. My understanding is she lost her job because of this , tell me how that makes sense. Goodnight everyone

  4. Stumpknocker on May 27th, 2024 6:50 pm

    @Roger, you are absolutely correct, the Kia ran the stop sign, and out into Hwy 29. Of there was a charge it would be of the Kia driver, but unless there was some contributing circumstances like impaired driving or deliberate carelessness there should be no charges, it was a tragic accident. And while on the scene I seen nothing that would suspect anything else. Go drive that road at night and you will see just how dark it is and very easy for a new driver to make a mistake.

  5. Balance on May 27th, 2024 5:55 pm

    @Debbie

    Do you mean the semi driver, or the Kia driver?

  6. Roger on May 27th, 2024 1:16 pm

    To debbie……………..
    I was there that night. The truck driver was not at fault. The kia ran the stop sign. Petitions are popularity contest at best. TRUTH of the facts is why courts are around. Because people like to run on feelings when its something like this.
    He was a good kid and I am sad that the world lost him.

  7. Kenna Stone Hand on May 27th, 2024 12:22 pm

    His smile lit a room, he made anyone that knew him feel special. All of Pensacola should know the truth to this story. And justice should be served.

  8. Debbie on May 27th, 2024 11:10 am

    I didn’t personally know Bradley but from what I’ve heard he was such a sweet young man. He had such a beautiful smile. This was a tragedy that should have never happened . My heart goes out to his family. In my opinion the driver should have been charged but for some unknown reason the FHP doesn’t share my opinion or the opinion of over a thousand other citizens who signed a petition. Something just doesn’t smell right. Bradley deserve justice and I pray he gets it.





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