WEATHER ALERT
Some in White Springs are still completely surrounded by water after Debby; Lake City residents eye damage
Read full article: Some in White Springs are still completely surrounded by water after Debby; Lake City residents eye damageSome people in White Springs are still completely surrounded by water because of Tropical Storm Debby.
Semi-truck catches fire on I-10 in Suwannee County, closes lane
Read full article: Semi-truck catches fire on I-10 in Suwannee County, closes laneThe vehicle was traveling on the inside westbound lane of I-10 west of the 283 exit. The vehicle traveled to the left and struck the guardrail before traveling across both westbound lanes where it stopped on the north shoulder.
Suwannee Valley Unsolved: Event to highlight 3 cold cases in Suwannee, Columbia County
Read full article: Suwannee Valley Unsolved: Event to highlight 3 cold cases in Suwannee, Columbia CountyThe event will be hosted by a group called Suwannee Valley Unsolved and will be held at Hatch Park Community Center in Branford, Florida.
Federal grand jury indicts father, son for conspiracy, having and selling firearm silencers
Read full article: Federal grand jury indicts father, son for conspiracy, having and selling firearm silencersSpecial agents from FBI Jacksonville arrested a man and his adult son on a criminal complaint charging them with possession and transfer of firearm silences not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Special agents from FBI Jacksonville arrest father, son accused of unlawful possession, transfer of firearm silencers
Read full article: Special agents from FBI Jacksonville arrest father, son accused of unlawful possession, transfer of firearm silencersSpecial agents from FBI Jacksonville arrested a man and his adult son on a criminal complaint charging them with possession and transfer of firearm silences not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Tuesday.
Columbia County children found safe, parents facing charges after Amber Alert issued
Read full article: Columbia County children found safe, parents facing charges after Amber Alert issuedAfter a Florida Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening for two children last seen in Lake City, authorities announced Thursday that the children had been found safe and their biological parents had been taken into custody.
3 arrested, 1 wanted in heavy equipment theft operation
Read full article: 3 arrested, 1 wanted in heavy equipment theft operationFrom left to right: Robert Sanders, Matthew Yopp, Tony Richards and Joshua ReddThree men were arrested and another man is wanted in a theft operation that involved stealing and selling heavy equipment across North Florida and South Georgia, according to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office said Yopp and Redd stole numerous trailers and pieces of heavy equipment across North Florida and South Georgia. A fourth man, Tony Richards, 40, of Lake City, used his construction business to sell the stolen equipment, according to the Sheriff’s Office. When the Sheriff’s Office found out the thefts spanned multiple states, it contacted the FBI. The investigation is ongoing by all agencies involved, including the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Live Oak Police Department.
US Marshals arrest St. Augustine man wanted in rape of teen
Read full article: US Marshals arrest St. Augustine man wanted in rape of teenA 25-year-old St. Augustine man suspected in the rape of a 13-year-old girl was arrested Friday in Suwannee County, authorities said. Marshals Task Force and Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office took Hunter Dylan Jones Buck into custody after locating him in Live Oak, the St. Augustine Police Department tweeted Friday afternoon. At last check Friday, he remained in custody at the Suwannee County jail, where he’s being held without bond. AdPolice previously told News4Jax the man had been contacting the girl on social media about a week before the attack. AdThe man, whom police have identified as Buck, took off when the teen’s mother got home.
2 St. Johns County teens die in single-car crash on I-10
Read full article: 2 St. Johns County teens die in single-car crash on I-10SWUANEE COUNTY, Fla. – Two teens from St. Johns County passed away Saturday morning in a crash on Interstate 10 in Suwannee County. An investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol showed the sedan the teens were driving west about 10:45 a.m. between I-95 and Live Oak drifted slightly into the grassy median. Investigators believe the driver, an 18-year-old boy, over-corrected, resulting in the car traveling off of the road and hitting a tree. Both the driver and a 16-year-old female passenger died at the scene. Neither were wearing seat belts, according to the report.
EF-0 Tornado confirmed in Suwannee County
Read full article: EF-0 Tornado confirmed in Suwannee CountyJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The National Weather Service of Jacksonville sent a team out to survey damage from Monday morning’s storms and found evidence of an EF-0 tornado. EF-0 tornadoes produce damaging, rotating winds between 65 and 85 mph. Here is a post from the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office of the damage:Some storm damage at the intersection of Goldkist Blvd and US 90. Posted by Suwannee County Sheriff's Office on Monday, April 13, 2020The tornado continued east-northeastward with sporadic damage near Nobles Ferry Road and Houston Avenue and then lifted near the Walmart Supercenter adjacent to U.S. Highway 129. The Sheriff’s Office also shared photos of damage near a mobile home park:
2 killed in head-on crash in Suwannee County
Read full article: 2 killed in head-on crash in Suwannee CountySUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. – Two Live Oak residents were killed early Saturday morning in a head-on collision at the intersection of County Road 132 and 34th Street, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. According to the FHP report, Brown died at the scene and Palmer was taken to Shands Hospital in Live Oak, where she also died. The report said both drivers were wearing seatbelts and the accident was not alcohol-related. Troopers are still investigating why Brown left his travel lane. The accident happened off U.S. 129 north of Interstate 10 and south of the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park.
Community honors life of longtime Suwannee County firefighter
Read full article: Community honors life of longtime Suwannee County firefighterLAKE CITY, Fla. - Hundreds of mourners, including firefighters from as far away as Tampa, gathered Tuesday morning to honor the life of a longtime Suwannee County firefighter who was killed in a motorcycle crash last week. James Sommers, 40, joined Suwannee County Fire Rescue in 2001 and rose in the ranks, serving as the county's public safety director since 2012. Sommers was killed last Tuesday evening in a motorcycle crash in Lake City, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Suwannee County Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Eddie Hand told News4Jax that Sommers made great strides in leading the department toward where it is today. Since Sommers' leadership, Suwannee added another paid station with 25 firefighters to the staff.
Community honors life of longtime Suwannee County firefighter
Read full article: Community honors life of longtime Suwannee County firefighterHundreds of mourners, including firefighters from as far away as Tampa, gathered Tuesday morning to honor the life of a longtime Suwannee County firefighter who was killed in a motorcycle crash last... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Suwannee County public safety director killed in motorcycle crash
Read full article: Suwannee County public safety director killed in motorcycle crashLAKE CITY, Fla. - Condolences are pouring in for a local father killed in a motorcycle crash in Columbia County. Suwannee County Public Safety Director James Sommers, 40, was killed Tuesday evening in a motorcycle crash in Lake City, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. "Its been a tough time on all of us," said Eddie Hand, Suwannee County Fire Rescue's assistant chief. Sommers was a firefighter in Suwannee County for 19 years and rose in the ranks, serving as the county's public safety director since 2001. "It is with deepest sympathy and regret that we announce the death of James E. Sommers," Suwannee County Fire Rescue said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Sheriff: 3 children trapped in freezer in Suwannee County die
Read full article: Sheriff: 3 children trapped in freezer in Suwannee County dieLIVE OAK, Fla. – Three young children died Sunday evening after getting trapped in a chest freezer, the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office said Monday. Deputies, along with Suwannee County Fire Rescue, transported the three children to Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center, but they could not be revived. "Words can't describe ... (this) tragedy, how heartbroken I am," Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John said. The sheriff said the mother of the 4-year-old, who had been watching the children, told authorities she went inside to use the bathroom and when she went back outside, she could not find the children. It is believed at this time that when the children entered the freezer and the lid closed, the hasp fell shut, trapping the children inside," the Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.
FHP: Father killed, 2-year-old daughter hurt in Lake City crash
Read full article: FHP: Father killed, 2-year-old daughter hurt in Lake City crashLAKE CITY, Fla. – A Suwannee County man was killed and his 2-year-old daughter was hurt Friday in a rear-end collision involving a log truck and a sport-utility vehicle in Lake City, authorities said. Troopers said a Ford Expedition driven by 40-year-old Daniel Clayton Fennell was following behind the log truck when it crashed into the back of the trailer. Paramedics extricated Fennell, who was airlifted to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville where he died of his injuries, troopers said. Fennell's daughter was taken to Lake City Medical Center for treatment and picked up by her mother, according to the Highway Patrol. The log truck's driver was not hurt.
Bus fire shuts down WB I-10 lanes in Suwanee County
Read full article: Bus fire shuts down WB I-10 lanes in Suwanee CountySUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. – Fire crews worked to put out a commercial bus fire on I-10 west between mile marker 269 and 268 Wednesday. Officials said the fire shut down the westbound lanes for a short time. Two people on board at the time of the fire were able to escape without injury, officials said. The cause of fire is not known at this time.
Woman seriously injured when truck overturns, ejects her
Read full article: Woman seriously injured when truck overturns, ejects herSUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman suffered serious injuries after her truck rolled over Tuesday on State Road 10, a half-mile west of County Road 137. The Florida Highway Patrol said witnesses reported the woman, identified as Bonnie Coy Omalley, 47, was driving east on SR 10 when she veered off the road into the grass. She attempted to correct, but that caused her vehicle to begin spinning and travel off the road again, onto a grassy shoulder. Troopers said Omalley's truck began to flip and she was thrown from the vehicle. Omalley was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital as a trauma patient.
Child in Live Oak in serious condition after being hit by car
Read full article: Child in Live Oak in serious condition after being hit by carLIVE OAK, Fla. – A 1-year-old boy in Live Oak was flown to UF Health Gainesville with serious injuries after being hit by a car shortly before noon Saturday. The Florida Highway Patrol said the child identified as David Damewood, was unattended and ran into the path of a car on 177th Road and 14th Street..FHP said the child's mother transported the boy to UF Health Live Oak. The child was then flown to UF Health Gainesville. Authorities have not said anything about possible charges as the case is still under investigation.
Correctional officer arrested in Suwannee County
Read full article: Correctional officer arrested in Suwannee CountyLIVE OAK, Fla. – A correctional officer from Suwannee County was arrested Thursday and accused of introducing contraband into a prison. Alice Edwards, 32, was arrested during an Office of Inspector General criminal investigation. She worked at Suwannee Correctional Institution, according to the affadavit. No other information was released about the charges or what type of contraband was involved. Edwards was booked into the Suwannee County Jail following her arrest.
Man dead after striking tree off County Road 252
Read full article: Man dead after striking tree off County Road 252SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that left one man dead Thursday. According to FHP, Willie T. Thomas, 52, of Live Oak, was driving a 2002 Chevy Blazer east on County Road 252 at about 5:35 p.m. Troopers said Thomas veered off the roadway, onto the shoulder of the road, then struck a tree. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene. FHP said Thomas was wearing a seat belt.
Family recovers, mourns after sturgeon kills girl
Read full article: Family recovers, mourns after sturgeon kills girlJaylon Rippy died after being struck Thursday night while riding in a boat driven by her father, Waylon Rippy. The sturgeon also hit Jaylon's mother, Tanya Rippy, and the girl's 9-year-old brother, Trevor. Waylon's mother, Donna Rippy, said she and Jaylon had lunch together before she dropped the girl off with her parents to go fishing that day. Donna Rippy said Jaylon (pictured) was a special little girl who lit up a room. Four people have been injured by jumping sturgeon this year, including two boaters who were taken to the hospital Friday.
Man arrested in DUI after crashing into home
Read full article: Man arrested in DUI after crashing into homeLIVE OAK, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol arrested a man after he crashed into a living room. Brett Williams, 33 of Thomasville, Georgia is charged with DUI 2nd offense with property damage, and reckless driving with property damage and injury. He left the roadway and hit a mailbox and continued travelling. He then hit a large dirt embankment and became airborne traveling 25 feet through the air. The Jeep landed through a porch roof and crashed into the living room at a home at 16906 CR-250.