No foul play suspected in apparent suicide

SANTA ROSA COUNTY — Wednesday morning, Santa Rosa County paramedics pronounced a Lakeland man, Brian James Markle, 52, dead. Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate the cause of death was a self-inflicted wound.

At 9:25 a.m. Sept. 13, Markle was driving a 1993 Toyota east on State Road 8 with a travel trailer in tow. Markle failed to stay in the single lane and the travel trailer collided with the raised barrier in the median.

A witness to the crash stopped to help Markle, who exited his vehicle as the witness approached. The two spoke and reports say Markle made a suicidal statement.

Markle then walked behind his travel trailer and fired one round from a small caliber pistol, striking himself in the head.

The investigation is ongoing, but the Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Criminal Investigation suspects no foul play.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: No foul play suspected in apparent suicide