Four Pensacola high school students killed in car crash

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Four Pensacola high school students were killed when the driver lost control of their car and spun into the path of a pickup truck, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the blue Nissan carrying the four students was speeding westbound on a road Tuesday when it traveled into the eastbound lane, careened into soft dirt along the road and then spun into the eastbound pickup, which was carrying two people.

Neftali Rodriguez, 19, the driver of the car, and passengers Nathaniel Martinez, 16, and Clarence Lewis, 16, died at the scene. Jeremy Jones, 15, was airlifted to Baptist Hospital and died Wednesday, said hospital spokeswoman Karen Smith. All were students at Pine Forest High School.

The driver of the pickup, Justin Garner Norwood, 23, of Glenco, Ark., suffered minor injuries. Norwood's passenger, Bobby Fisher of Hardy, Ark., was taken by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday.

Pine Forest Principal Babs Patterson told The Pensacola News Journal that 10 additional grief counselors were at school Wednesday to help students cope.

"It's a very somber atmosphere," she said. "The hallways are quieter than usual."

FHP officials said the students' car was traveling "over the posted speed limit" but did not estimate the speed. None of the students was wearing a seat belt. The two men in the pickup were wearing seat belts, troopers said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Return to News Page]