Gulf County, FL (May 28, 2025) – A fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a utility bucket truck left a 69-year-old Wewahitchka woman dead and one worker seriously injured on Tuesday afternoon. The collision occurred around 12:35 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 71 and County Road 386, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
Preliminary reports indicate that the woman was driving northbound on SR-71 in her pickup when, for reasons still under investigation, she veered off the roadway and crashed into the front end of a bucket line truck stationed on the shoulder. The bucket truck was in use at the time, with two utility workers secured in its extended boom.
The violent impact caused both workers to be ejected from the boom. One of the men sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a local medical facility for treatment. The condition of the second worker has not been publicly disclosed.
The driver of the pickup, whose identity has not yet been released, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. Florida Highway Patrol was joined at the scene by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, EMS teams, and members of the Wewahitchka Volunteer Fire Department.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether speed, distraction, or a medical emergency may have contributed to the woman’s loss of control.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and our heartfelt wishes for recovery to the injured worker.