Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
A semi-truck accident in Taylor County resulted in the death of a 71-year-old Mayo man on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
According to a report provided by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), at approximately 8:40 a.m., the semi-truck driven by the 71-year-old was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 221, nine miles north of Perry when, for reasons still unknown, he struck the guardrail on the east shoulder. As a result, the driver crossed over into the southbound lane before it collided head-on with another semi-truck being driven by a 52-year-old Missouri man.
After hitting the driver head-on, the Mayo driver’s vehicle continued off the west side of the roadway and over the guardrail, breaking into several pieces. The truck driven by the 52-year-old man jackknifed on U.S. Highway 221, coming to rest and blocking both lanes of traffic.
The 71-year-old driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the 52-year-old driver was life-flighted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with critical injuries.
FHP was assisted at the scene by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Taylor County Fire Rescue, Perry Fire Rescue, Century EMS, Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.