UPDATE: 2 KILLED AND 1 SERIOUSLY INJURED IN HEAD ON COLLISION
DeFuniak Springs Police responded to U.S. Highway 90 East
near Davis Lane in reference to a traffic crash in which the vehicles hit head
on. Police Officers and Detectives,
along with Firefighters from the DeFuniak Springs Fire Department arrived to find
an SUV overturned. Witnesses advised that
a Red Jeep SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed heading east in the
westbound lane of U.S. Highway 90 when it hit head on with a Silver Mazda
Minivan. The driver of the Jeep was
identified as 34 year old Joshua Lawayne Evans of Ponce De Leon, who was
pronounced dead on the scene. The driver
of the Mazda was identified as 64 year old Janice Marie Reeser of DeFuniak
Springs, who sustained serious injuries and was transported to Ft. Walton Beach
Medical Center by Walton Fire Rescue. A
passenger in the Mazda, 89 year old Elaine Teresa Briant, was transported to
Healthmark Regional Medical Center by Walton Fire Rescue where she succumbed to
her injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol
responded with their advanced traffic homicide tools to assist with the
investigation. The Walton County Sheriff’s
Office and Florida Department of Transportation also responded to assist with
traffic control. Witnesses and video
evidence show the Jeep was traveling in the wrong lane. The investigation is continuing. U.S. Highway 90 East was closed for approximately 3 hours while public safety officials investigated the incident.
ORIGINAL: DeFuniak Springs Police are working a traffic fatality on US Highway 90 East between Davis Lane and Norwood Road. Traffic is being diverted around this area using Dorsey Avenue and Davis Lane. Roadway will possibly be closed for several hours.
Please avoid the area if possible.