Pensacola Fatal Accident

Florida Pensacola Suspected car thief crashes at a busy Pensacola intersection killing innocent driver

by Pat Peterson

Published: Tue, December 30, 2008 - 6:57 pm CST

A Pensacola man suspected of stealing an SUV slammed into at least five cars at a busy intersection Tuesday morning killing an innocent driver. The accident happened just before 9am at the intersection of Davis Highway and Creighton Boulevard. The driver of the stolen SUV failed to negotiate a sharp curve at the intersection causing the deadly accident.

"It sounded like a bomb went off," says Kyle Wilkins. Wilkins was involved in the accident. "I'm glad I'm okay but it's terrible the man caused a fatality."

Gail Horne died at the scene of the accident. Horne's Honda Civic was no match for the SUV.

The suspect jumped out of the truck and fled on foot. The man ran towards a residential area.

"It's nuts! It's crazy!" says Mark Jones. Jones says the suspect opened his backdoor and tried to hide from police.

"I heard the helicopter and I'm like are you wanted? He's said no. What happened, I asked? He says he was just in an accident. I said, was anybody hurt? He says no."

Frightened and confused, Jones was now deep in the middle of a police manhunt.

"I hadn't cleaned the kitchen up from the night before and there were knives everywhere! I didn't think about until after the fact and said Holy crap! He could have taken me hostage, killed himself or a cop."

The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Gail Horne is survived by three children and four grandchildren. Horne is a Pensacola native and was well-liked and well-known. She used to operate a business in West Pensacola.

In the meantime, Horne's friends are concerned about her dog. Horne's dog was riding with her when the accident happened and jumped out of the car and ran off. The dog could be injured. Please call Francine Armstrong at 850-304-4079 if you know where the dog might be. The dog is small, white Havanes.