Gulf Breeze man injured in highway accident involving semi

MILTON — A Gulf Breeze resident has a minor injury following a traffic accident in Santa Rosa County.

Brian Harry Engle, 48, of Gulf Breeze, was driving east on U.S. Highway 98 before he stopped in the left-turn lane at Reserve Boulevard.

A truck and trailer, which had entered U.S. 90 from Reserve, were stopped in the median, blocking Engle’s view, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.

Olga Batova, 52, of Gulf Breeze, was traveling west on U.S. 98 in the outside travel lane approaching Engle’s vehicle. Walter Devin Davis, 37, of Pensacola, was traveling west on U.S. 98 behind Batova in the inside travel lane.

As Batova passed Engle, he started across the roadway.

As Engle attempted to cross the westbound travel lanes, the front of his 2012 Chevy Camaro collided with the left side of Batova’s 2007 Dodge Caravan, according to the release. The resulting impact caused the Caravan to rotate counter clockwise, straddling westbound travel lanes facing north.

With nowhere to go, Davis locked his brakes before sliding into the right side of the Caravan, according to the release.

Davis then continued into the grass median, where his International semi jackknifed and came back onto the westbound travel lanes.

The Caravan was knocked down into the ditch on the intersection’s northwest corner, according to the release.

The incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. June 22. 

The Camaro received $25,000 in damage; the Caravan, $5,000; and the semi, $25,000, according to the release, which stated that alcohol was not involved. 

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Gulf Breeze man injured in highway accident involving semi