“I’m coming this way to go to the fitness center,” Palm Coast resident Falana Peterson says, describing how she was driving east on State Road 100 just before 3 this afternoon, “and the car, she was just there, she just pulled in front of me, out of nowhere. It was impossible to stop.”
Peterson, 35, was driving a white Cadillac Backus STS with her 13-year-old son. Neither appeared injured and stood in the shade of the shopping mall sign. Their car’s air bags had deployed.
As she described the accident, Peterson was driving parallel to the entrance to the Winn Dixie shopping center. Three or four teen-agers were driving and riding in an older-model, 4-door Honda Civic, going west on 100. Based on Peterson’s description, the Honda appeared to have made a turn at the turning lane into the shopping center entrance, and not stopped, crossing into the eastbound traffic’s right of way.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” Peterson said one of the occupants of the Honda told her immediately after the wreck.
The force of the smash-up sent both cars swerving and coming to a stop, almost parallel to each other, both facing southwest and straddling the right lane and the shoulder of the eastbound lane of SR100, which the Palm Coast Fire Police closed, leaving one lane open.
Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito, who was at the scene, said one of the young occupants of the Honda was unconscious when paramedics arrived and was going to be evacuated by helicopter, as a trauma evacuation. She regained consciousness, and was transported by ground to Halifax Hospital, Petito said, either either serious or critical injuries. At least two other occupants of the Honda were transported by ground to nearby Florida Hospital Flagler. The extent of their injuries is not determined yet.
A Florida Highway Patrol report later in the day listed only two injured individuals in the Honda: Shantell Cleare, 17, of Palm Coast, and Khadijah James, 17, of Palm Coast. Both were listed as having sustained only minor injuries, and both were taken to Florida Hospital Flagler.
The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the wreck with assistance from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. The Flagler Beach Fire Department also responded. Traffic was slowed down in the eastbound lanes of SR100 past 4 p.m.
carguyandparent says
Such a shame… Hope everyone is ok… Teach your children well, their fathers hell will slowly go by.
Gia says
That what happen when drivers don’t respect the rule. These no brain kids probably text messaging or on the phone instead of paying attention. Now you know why insurance goes up.
The Truth says
Wow, way to be judgemental! You have no idea what these kids were doing. The fact is, people of ALL ages make mistakes while driving. That’s why it’s called an accident. Everyone needs to pay attention while their driving. The texting while driving needs to stop but please don’t assume that was the case here. Perhaps the teens just didn’t see her, perhaps they thought the road was clear and it wasn’t. Thankfully, no one was hurt in this accident but to pass judgement on an incident without knowing the facts and claiming that teens are the reason our insurance goes up is just asinine.
Bill McGuire says
“Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you you would cry
Just look at them and sigh
and know they love you”
tallyrally says
We haven’t heard the other side of the story yet although it seems to me that the grey car may have just gone right on across 100 without bothering to stop at the stop sign or thought they could make it across. Not EVERY car accident is caused by texting as the majority of posters seem to accuse lately. Some of them are because of just plain stupidity, kinda like Gia’s post.
B. Claire says
“and the car, she was just there, she just pulled in front of me, out of nowhere. It was impossible to stop.”
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” Peterson said one of the occupants one of the occupants of the Honda told her immediately after the wreck.
…………….Hummm, someone knows a little lawyering :)
[Isn’t it pretty much all drivers’ job to always ‘be able to stop’ ?]
tampanative says
Before cell phones and texting what did you blame accidents on? Do you know for a fact they do not have brains? Unless they are made of straw they do.
Initialjoe says
I blame both occupants for not paying attention.
With that said, I hope everyone is ok.
Tameshia says
Im am one of the students that were in that car. i am the one that was in a comma dont go pointing fingers at no one, i mean no one. dont no one know what happen. And one thing i can say my friend Shantell Clear was not texting.
I wish everyone would just hush because pointing fingers at people and you dont even know what happened.
Tameshia says
There was no one to talk but the one who hit us bc everyone got rushed to the hospital. there aint no way you cant make no effort to stop and its 35 of the ramp not 50-55. People think
photo fitness says
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein