One killed in East Bay crash

A drunk driver fleeing a hit-and-run accident on U.S. Highway 98 killed one person and seriously injured two others when the Ford SUV he was driving smashed into a car Wednesday afternoon on East Bay Boulevard.

 Joseph R. Stewart, 26, of Navarre, was arrested at the accident scene and was being held at Santa Rosa County Jail on several charges, including DUI manslaughter.

A Florida Highway Patrol report cited witnesses as identifying Stewart and his  1996 Ford sport utility vehicle as haing caused an earlier crash on U.S. Highway 98 at or near the intersection of Nantahala Beach Road. He allegedly fled that accident scene, turning north onto East Bay Boulevard and continuing north and east at speeds some emergency responders at the scene speculated may have been in excess of 100 mph.

Bartholomew R. Cole, 25, of Gulf Breeze, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet two-door passenger car east on East Bay Boulevard. Jennifer R. Cole, 25, and Joel E. Rodriguez, 19, both of Gulf Breeze, were passengers in the vehicle.

Shortly after 3 p.m., Cole slowed and began turning left onto Mossy Oaks Drive, which extends northward from East Bay Boulevard. Stewart braked and veered left to try to avoid a collision. The front of the Ford struck  the left rear side of the Chevrolet being driven by Cole in the westbound lane. The Ford continued northeasterly and came to rest facing northeast, partially in the westbound lane of East Bay Boulevard and on the westbound shoulder. The Chevrolet spun counterclockwise and came to rest in the westbound shoulder.

Life Guard Paramedic Supervisor Gerald Ward pronounced Cole dead at 3:22 p.m.

According to the highway patrol's news release, Jennifer Cole and Rodriguez were transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries..

Photos from the wreck are available online at Navarre Press' photo gallery.

  Firefighters had to use "Jaws-of-Life" to extricate accident victims.