Woman killed on U.S. 98

A Gulf Breeze woman was killed Thursday evening while crossing near the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and East Bay Boulevard in Gulf Breeze.

According to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol, Rosa Mead, 47, was walking south across the eastbound lanes of Highway 98 around 10:10 p.m. when she was struck by a Jeep driven by 34-year-old Brian Winkler of Navarre.

“There have been no charges filed against (Winkler) as the case is still under investigation,”  said Lieutenant Steve Preston, public information officer for the Florida Highway Patrol.  “As far as we know, the woman just walked out into the (street). And I’m not sure if (Winkler) has a driving record or not.”

Winkler was eastbound along Highway 98 in the right lane when Mead stepped into the path of his vehicle and was struck by the right front of the Jeep, the report said. She was propelled to the eastbound shoulder while Winkler brought his vehicle to a controlled stop east of the crash scene.

For more details on this story, see the Aug. 7 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe to our online edition.