A multiple-vehicle collision involving a van, pickup truck and car resulted in the tragic death of six family members on Friday, April 2, 2010. The fatal motor vehicle collision (MVC) occurred in Nassau County, according to information provided by News4Jax.com.
Authorities from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported the family’s van en route from Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida to visit a family member, who was being released from prison, when a car struck it. The impact sent the van careening into the median of the roadway, causing it to become involved in a collision with a pickup truck. The pickup truck had allegedly attempted to “avoid a cloud of dust kicked up by the wreck”, when it violently hit the van. The car involved in the horrifying three-vehicle wreck was reportedly traveling at an excessively high rate of speed when it crashed into the van.
The automobile accident resulted in six fatalities, sadly eliminating members from three different generations within the family. The victims, who were occupants of the van during the accident, were identified as 57-year-old Brenda Mitchell Edwards; her 39-year-old daughter Melissa L. Mitchell; Mitchell’s children, 11-year-old Miya Mitchell, and 4-year-old twins Christian and Keyshawn Perry; as well as Edward’s 16-year-old granddaughter Dhanja Mitchell. It was not stated whether emergency medical services (EMS) personnel responded to the scene to transport any severely injured victims to area hospitals or if they were all pronounced dead at the scene.
A public viewing and funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Charlton County High School, 500 Indian Trail, in Folkston, Ga.
An account in the Mitchell-Family name has been established to help pay for funeral expenses at VyStar Credit Union. The account’s number is 702814864.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Trucker Honored for saving an Accident Victim
The Truckload Carriers Association has honored Peter Pearce, a truck driver for Flying J, Inc., as a Highway Angel for helping an accident victim get out of her overturned car.
On Feb. 9, 2010, Pearce was heading north on Highway 42 between Debolt and Grand Prairie in Alberta when a pickup truck passed him going close to the speed limit. As the driver switched back into her original lane, the vehicle slipped on a patch of black ice, careened backward into a ditch, flipped over three times, crashed through a fence and landed upside down in a field.
Both Pearce and another motorist stopped to help. While the other driver called emergency personnel, Pearce ran down the embankment and leapt over a crash barrier to reach the pickup. The vehicle's engine was still running, and the rear wheels were turning. The driver was in a state of panic, screaming for help.
Since both doors were too damaged to open, Pearce asked the woman to cover her face while he broke a window. He then reached in, turned off the ignition and extracted the driver. He moved her a few feet away and covered her with a travel blanket that the other motorist provided. The woman had a large gash on the back of her head, so Pearce retrieved a cushion from her car to help absorb the flow of blood. All three waited together for the next 20 minutes until paramedics arrived at the scene.
For his efforts, Pearce will receive a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Flying J will also receive a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
On Feb. 9, 2010, Pearce was heading north on Highway 42 between Debolt and Grand Prairie in Alberta when a pickup truck passed him going close to the speed limit. As the driver switched back into her original lane, the vehicle slipped on a patch of black ice, careened backward into a ditch, flipped over three times, crashed through a fence and landed upside down in a field.
Both Pearce and another motorist stopped to help. While the other driver called emergency personnel, Pearce ran down the embankment and leapt over a crash barrier to reach the pickup. The vehicle's engine was still running, and the rear wheels were turning. The driver was in a state of panic, screaming for help.
Since both doors were too damaged to open, Pearce asked the woman to cover her face while he broke a window. He then reached in, turned off the ignition and extracted the driver. He moved her a few feet away and covered her with a travel blanket that the other motorist provided. The woman had a large gash on the back of her head, so Pearce retrieved a cushion from her car to help absorb the flow of blood. All three waited together for the next 20 minutes until paramedics arrived at the scene.
For his efforts, Pearce will receive a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Flying J will also receive a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
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