Alcohol a factor in four-car accident

Alcohol was a factor in a four car accident that sent one woman with serious injuries to the hospital Feb. 11, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

Christopher Barboza, 27, of Hurlburt Field was traveling eastbound in the inside lane of State Road 30, west of the intersection with Panhandle Trail around 5:50 p.m. Melissa Flanagan, 22; Todd Nusbaum, 50; and Holly Mapel, 28; all of Navarre, were traveling westbound on S.R. 30 when, according to witness statements given to the Holley Navarre Fire Department, Barboza swerved his vehicle to the left and crossed the median. He hit Flanagan in the left, rear side of her vehicle and continued forward striking Nusbaum.

Flanagan’s rear wheel was severed by the impact and rolled until it struck Mapel’s vehicle, as was reported in the Florida Highway Patrol report.

Flanagan was unable to exit her vehicle, according to HNFD Chief Ron Norton.

“[Flanagan] had to be extricated from her vehicle. She did not have any life threatening injuries that paramedics needed to tend to, but she was taken to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola,” Norton said.

Flanagan’s injuries were listed as serious in the FHP report, but not critical.

Barboza’s vehicle rotated counterclockwise and turned over onto its side. The HNFD also had to extricate Barboza from his vehicle. He had minor injuries and was also taken to Baptist Pensacola.

All vehicle occupants were wearing their seatbelts, but there was alcohol related to Barboza’s actions, according to the FHP report.

Charges were pending as of Tuesday morning, Feb. 15.