FIVE PEOPLE FROM MY FAMILY HOSPITALIZED IN PANAMA CITY DUI CRASH - Jerry Verlinger
Six people are sent to the hospital after a multi-vehicle accident in Panama City on Thursday night, according to the Panama City Police Department. [Photo: My Panhandle.com]
Friday evening my Grandson, Justin Verlinger Jr., and his wife Kimberly, along with my two little great-granddaughters, Taylor 9, and Kaylee 8, were headed for a shopping mall in Panama City Florida. Also riding in the rear seat with the girls was my granddaughter, Amanda (Justins'sister).
As they sat in a line of cars at a stoplight they were rear-ended by William Wayne Vestal, 28, (shown right) as he approached theintersectionat a high rate of speed. Vestal suffered only minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital, then booked into the Bay County Jail on charges of driving while Impaired among other charges, and held inlieu of $16,000 bail..
According to an account posted in the Panama City Herald , w itnesses told police three vehicles were sitting at an intersection traffic light, when Vestal, driving at a high rate of speed, and without slowing down, careened into the rear vehicle intheline (my grandsons'), causing a chain reaction of crashes, injuring a total of 9 people, six of which were hospitalized including three children.
The most seriously injured was my granddaughter, 26, who suffered two broken kegs, one of which was crushed and almost severed. After intensivesurgery to save her leg, which required the insertion of pins and a rod, it is hoped she will recover fully, but her doctors say she will have to undergo extensive rehab and willlikelyhave to relearn how to walk.
The two little ones also suffered broken legs, among other injuries, but it is expected they will be just fine. (except for the trauma). The third child hospitalized was a 10 year old boy traveling in another vehicle. Justin Jr. and Kimberly where 'banged up' and bruised, but they are otherwise OK.
The City Herald article said. " Officers secured Vestals car once he was taken to the hospital. During the crash investigation, police allegedly found a plastic container behind the drivers seat. Inside was a small amount of marijuana and multiple paraphernalia items, police said. On the bottom of the container was a bloody smear of Vestals fingerprint. "
" Officers also said they found an open alcohol container and that the driver refused to submit a blood alcohol test. "
Everyone is trying to deal with what happened vs what could have happened. But the fact that no lives were lost does not quite compensate for the anger and sadness we all are feeling. When I spoke to my son, Justin Sr., he was still trying to contain his rage, forcing himself to remain calm so he can tend to his family.
You never know how events like this impact a family until it happens to your own.
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