On Thursday, March 25, 2025, around 10PM the Florida Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit made an arrest on the driver of the white Ford F150 pickup truck which was involved in a fatal crash, killing an 81-year-old driver of a golf cart.
Arrested was James Ward Jr, 75 years of age, from Pensacola. It was determined Mr. Ward was driving his truck at a high rate of speed, west on Barrancas Avenue and prior to the fatal crash, he ran of the roadway multiple times, colliding with the concrete barriers on the Bayou Chicco Bridge.
Mr. Ward displayed obvious signs of impairment during the investigation at the scene, due to struggling to stand and maintain his balance, and for his safety Field Sobriety Exercises had to be stopped. The team was afraid for his safety, appearing to be a fall risk and injuring himself.
Based on the initial discovery of the investigation, Mr. Ward was charged and booked into the Escambia County Jail for the following charges: 1count DUI manslaughter, 1 count vehicular homicide, and possession of Marijuana.
The fatal golf cart crash is still an ongoing case as far as investigation and more charges may be pending.
