for immediate release
August 20, 2004
N E W S R E L E A S E
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating a traffic crash in Destin late last night (Thursday night) that has resulted in a fatality. The victim, John Wesley Jones, Jr., age 77 (10-16-1926), of 3951 W. State Road 20, Freeport, died at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center this morning, approximately 12 hours after the crash.
Jones was eastbound on Emerald Coast Parkway (US Highway 98) when he attempted to make a left turn in front of oncoming westbound traffic. Jones' 2003 Kia was struck on the right side by a 1996 Ford driven by Nicole Marie Malheiro, age 20 (8-31-1983), of 335 Sudduth Circle NE, Fort Walton Beach. Malheiro, westbound in the left lane of Emerald Coast Parkway, did not have time to stop before the collision. She was not injured.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts. In addition, the airbag deployed in the Malheiro vehicle.
The crash happened a few minutes after 10:00 o'clock last night (Thursday night), in front of Beall's Department Store, 15003 Emerald Coast Parkway. Jones was pronounced dead at approximately 10:30 this morning (Friday morning).
This is the sixth traffic fatality in Okaloosa County in 2004.
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for more information contact Sgt. Rick Hord, Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420