Underage drivers involved in two accidents

Two underage drivers were involved in two separate accidents at Edgewood Drive  last Thursday and Friday evenings.

The first accident, which resulted in a fatality, occurred around 6:32 p.m. May 31 at the intersection on U.S. Highway 98 and Edgewood Drive.

A 2004 maroon Dodge Durango, driven by Brianna C. Henderson, 15, of Dixson Mills, Ala., was exiting Edgewood Drive into the eastbound lane of U.S. 98. A 2012 White Nissan Altima, driven by Alley J. Catyb, 50, of Dracut, Mass., was traveling in the outside westbound lane of U.S. 98, according to Florida Highway Patrol Trooper P. LeBrun.

A third car, a 2002 Acura, was also westbound on U.S. 98, on the inside lane. Henderson was stopped at the stop sign on Edgewood and then preceded into traffic on U.S. 98, into the oncoming path of the Altima. According to the FHP report, the Altima braked but could not avoid the Durango.

The front of the Durango hit the left side of the Altima, sending it careening out of control and spinning into the path of the Acura. The front left of the Acura then hit the rear of the Altima.

Margart Catyb, 77, of Dracut, Mass., was a passenger in the Altima and sustained critical injuries during the accident. She was visiting family in Navarre to attend the Navarre High School graduation ceremony, which was held June 2 at the Pensacola Civic Center. She was transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital and was pronounced dead later that evening.

There were no other significant injuries to other drivers or passengers. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Unit.

Traffic was backed up again around 9:30 p.m. June 1 on Edgewood Drive while first responders worked the scene of an accident that sent two to Baptist Hospital.

According to a FHP report, a group six young men were pushing a disabled black 2000 Toyota pickup while the "driver," Vincent Simpson, 21, of Hurlburt Field AFB was steering the vehicle. All seven men outside of the truck were maneuvering and the "driver" was steering through the driver's side window.

The truck was disabled due to a previous rollover accident and was located at 1912 Edgewood Drive. Lane Holland, 14, of Navarre was driving a tan 2007 Kia north on Edgewood. His 18-year-old sister Jacqueline Holland was a passenger. The FHP report stated that the driver did not see the black truck or the young men in the road pushing the truck because the truck did not have operating lights and the street light nearest the accident site was not in working order.

Also, no one was conducting traffic control to warn other traffic on Edgewood Drive. The front driver's side of the black truck and two of the young men pushing the disabled truck were struck by the Kia driven by Lane.

Ryan Barton, 20, of Navarre was listed as having serious injuries. James Romero, 19, was listed as having minor injuries. Both were taken to Baptist Hospital.

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