An arrest has been made in the June 19 fatal vehicle crash near Bay Head Road and Cherokee Street, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. According to that agency, here’s what we know:
Who was arrested?
The defendant’s name is William Wayne Vestal, 40. According to an arrest affidavit, he is a resident of Panama City.
When was the arrest made?
About 6:35 p.m. June 19.
What are the charges?
Driving while license suspended causing death and leaving the scene involving death. According to an arrest affidavit from the FHP, Vestal’s license has been suspended or revoked several times for past DUI cases and he ran away from the June 19 crash scene.
When did the crash happen?
June 19 at approximately 4:25 p.m.
Where did the crash happen?
Bay Head Road and Cherokee Street
What vehicles were involved in the crash?
An SUV and a pickup truck
Who was involved?
The driver of the SUV was a 54-year-old man from Youngstown. He died in the crash. The driver of the pickup was Vestal, who was not injured.
How did the crash happen?
According to the FHP news release, the SUV was southbound on Cherokee Street approaching Bay Head Road. The pickup truck was westbound on Bay Head Road approaching the intersection.
The pickup’s front end collided with the driver side of the SUV at the intersection, the patrol said.
The pickup rotated counterclockwise and came to final rest south of Bay Head Road facing east. The SUV rotated clockwise and came to final rest in the intersection of Bay Head Road and Cherokee Street facing west.
Witnesses told the FHP that Vestal was speeding in his pickup truck just before the crash and had passed their vehicle in a no-passing zone, according to the arrest affidavit.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Arrest made in fatal June 19 crash in Bay County
Reporting by DeonTay Smith and Jim Ross, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By DeonTay Smith and Jim Ross, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
