BONIFAY, FL : 1 dead in 3-car collision on S.R. 79 on Christmas Day on Wednesday, 25th December, 2019

One man is dead after being ejected from his vehicle in a crash on Christmas Day.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, Robert Lupin, 72, of Enterprise, Alabama, was traveling north on State Road 79 when he attempted to pass a GMC pick-up truck driven by Chipley resident Nicholas Coatney, in a no-passing zone.

As Lupin attempted to pass, his vehicle struck a Toyota sedan driven by Ruby Grizzell, which was traveling in the southbound lane. Lupin also struck Coatney’s vehicle while attempting to pass him.

As a result of the collisions, Lupin’s car overturned multiple times and while doing so, ejected him into the southbound lane. He died at the scene. Toxicology tests for alcohol are pending, the FHP release stated.

While Coatney’s truck came to a controlled stop on the east shoulder of the road facing north, Grizzell’s sedan ended up on the west shoulder of the road, facing south. Grizzell and her passenger, Gary Grizzell, both of McMinnville, Tennessee, suffered serious injuries and were transported to Ft. Walton Beach Medical and Doctors Memorial Hospital in Bonifay, respectively.

A third vehicle, a Subaru, driven by Panama City resident Jerry McGill, was traveling in the southbound lane behind Grizzell’s car and was hit with debris as the collision took place. Although he lost control of his vehicle, which came to a final rest on the west shoulder facing south, McGill was not injured.

Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing, the FHP release stated.

In addition to the single fatality, a pilot dispatched to the scene of the crash also died Wednesday.

According to FHP officials, pilot Doug Davis had a heart attack as he landed the medivac helicopter that was dispatched to the crash scene on S.R. 79 from Headland, Alabama. Officials said Davis never made it to the scene because his plane was recalled back to Headland.

He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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