Man dies in Pace traffic accident

PACE — A Pace man is dead and a Pensacola man is injured following a Thursday morning traffic accident near County Road 197.

Florida Highway Patrol responded to a crash at 6:07 a.m. A silver Dodge Avenger driven by Seth Rubert, 20, of Pensacola was traveling east on U.S. Highway 90 in the inside lane approaching County Road 197, according to an FHP media release. A blue Chevy Malibu driven by William Stewart, 65, of Pace was traveling north on County Road 197, approaching U.S. Highway 90. 

Rubert entered the intersection, against the traffic control device, directly into the path of Stewart, violating his right of away, according to the release, which stated the front right of Rubert’s vehicle struck the front left of Stewart’s vehicle. 

The force of impact caused Rubert’s vehicle to travel northeast from the area of impact to the north shoulder of U.S. 90, where the left side of Rubert’s vehicle struck a utility pole and traffic light support, according to the release. The force of the impact caused Stewart’s vehicle to rotate and travel to the eastbound inside lane of U.S. 90 facing west. 

A blue Fiat 500 driven by Dale Maxwell, 61, of Milton was stopped at the traffic light on the inside lane of U.S. 90 at the intersection of County Road 197, according to the release. Debris from the collision of the vehicles traveled east from the area of the collision and struck the front of Maxwell’s vehicle. 

Stewart died; serious injuries were reported by Rubert, who was transported to Sacred Heart in Pensacola; and no injuries were reported by Maxwell. 

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was involved. 

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Man dies in Pace traffic accident