Third pedestrian death on U.S. 98

A third pedestrian was killed Tuesday night while trying to cross U.S. Highway 98.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, two vehicles were traveling east in the eastbound inside lane of U. S. 98, near the intersection of El Rito Drive in Gulf Breeze around 9 p.m.

Deborah Louise Rector, 54, of Gulf Breeze was walking to the west along the westbound lanes of U.S. 98 and as the two vehicles approached from the west, Rector began to cross U. S. 98 to the south. She was struck by the right front portion of the first vehicle, driven by Craig Robert Schwartz, 21, of Gulf Breeze, as she entered into the eastbound inside lane of travel.

The report stated that Rector was projected forward, into the eastbound inside lane and Schwartz steered to the left.

The second vehicle, driven by Gabriel Garon Benjamin, 35, of Navarre, was unable to see the pedestrian and also struck her as she entered his lane. The drivers were not injured.

New information will be provided as it becomes available.