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Chipley, FL (October 26, 2018) - The three linemen who died in a tragic hit-and-run crash have been identified. The crash took place on Wednesday, October 24th around 6:50 pm.
Authorities say that the three men were working along State Road 77, near Talton Drive. They were working to restore power that had been knocked out by Hurricane Michael. That is when officers say that John Roland Goedkte, 37, of Tampa crashed into the men before leaving the scene. Police later arrested Goedkte and placed him in the Washington County Jail on charges related to DUI and hit-and-run.
The three deceased victims are George Cecil, 52, of Colerain, NC, James Ussery, 60, of Chipley and Ryan Barrett, 22, of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims in this tragic hit-and-run crash. Many hit-and-run crashes have tragic endings and, unfortunately, this crash is a reminder of the danger faced by many people who are simply out trying to do their jobs.
The driver in this crash will face criminal and also potential civil liability in the form of a wrongful death suit. In Florida, a wrongful death case may be brought by surviving family members when their loved ones are killed due to another's negligence.
If you find yourself in this tragic situation, the Florida wrongful death attorneys at Rubenstein Law want to help. For a free consultation, give us a call at 1-800 FL-Legal.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments
