The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that 85-year-old Mellie Marell of Bonifay, Florida died March 24th of injuries sustained in a crash on Thomas Drive/Hospital Drive in Bonifay and 20-year-old Zachary Neitsch, also of Bonifay, sustained serious injuries in the accident.
According to the FHP, Marell was driving a 2006 Volkswagen Passat and was turning left onto Hospital Drive from Thomas Drive at the time of the crash. Neitsch, a deputy of the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department, was traveling west on Thomas Drive with his emergency lights and siren activated on his marked patrol unit.
According to the FHP, Marell failed to yield the right of way. This action caused the front of the patrol car to collide with the right front side of the Passat. Upon colliding the Passat rotated and began traveling west onto the north grass shoulder Thomas Drive.
The patrol car came to final rest on the north grass shoulder facing east.