PCB woman, 79, killed in local traffic crash, FHP investigating

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Local law enforcement officials are investigating the traffic crash last week that killed a 79-year-old Panama City woman.

According to Lt. Jason King, spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Nov. 16 near Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road) and Lyndell Lane.

At that time, a 54-year-old man was driving a truck on PCB Parkway toward the intersection, while the woman was stopped at the stop sign of Lyndell Lane, waiting to turn onto PCB Parkway.

"It appears for some reason — it's under investigation — that he continued eastbound across Lyndell Lane and caused a head-on collision," King said.

The man was seriously injured, and the woman was pronounced dead on scene.

"He's still in the hospital as of right now, but it has not slowed our traffic homicide investigator down," King said on Tuesday. "These cases do take anywhere from six to nine months to complete, so we're still in the very early stages of discovery and gaining evidence and information."

Shocking case: Panama City lawyer charged with trying to set off explosives outside Chinese Embassy in DC

He said FHP has enough preliminary evidence to suspect the driver who caused the crash might have been under the influence of alcohol. More information, however, will be released as it becomes available.

"We definitely want to find a resolution and closure for the family," King said. "That's our ultimate goal. ... We're part of the community too, so that leads (us) to take it a little more personal when we lose lives, especially around the holidays."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: PCB woman, 79, dies in PCB vehicle crash; FHP investigating