FHP: 3 killed when pickup hits car on SR 100 in Bradford County

Florida Highway Patrol investigates fatal wrong-way crash

STARKE, Fla. – A man, a woman and her 16-year-old son were killed early Tuesday morning in a head-on collision near Starke, according to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said a full-size pickup truck going the wrong way on State Road 100 at Southeast 109th Street just before dawn ran into a small car. All three people in the two vehicles died at the scene.

The Florida Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash, said 53-year-old Kevin Booth, of Keystone Heights, was driving west in the eastbound lane at 6:51 a.m. when he struck a Ford Fiesta in the eastbound lane.

Driver Laura Wilbert, 35, and her son, Christian Okrasinski, 16, both of Starke, were also killed, troopers said.

"The car pulled out heading east with no headlights on. It was a head-on collision. The truck went airborne, flipped over and landed right where you're at right now," said a witness who didn't want his name used. "I got out and called law enforcement."

That witness said he and an off-duty officer pulled over to try and help until paramedics got there. With emotion in his voice, the told News4Jax: "I'm not going to tell you what I saw." 

All lanes were blocked in both directions until just before 11 a.m. while the accident scene was documented and cleared. All that's left behind is a bent street sign marking the intersection and deep tire tracks in the grass.


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.