A Panama City, Florida woman died Wednesday night, November 3, 2021 in a traffic crash on State 77.
According to Whit Majors, director of operations and chief investigator for the District 14 Medical Examiners Officer, the woman was Panama City’s Kristi Kirkland, whose vehicle collided with a tractor trailer truck while she was driving along the road at about 8 p.m.
Kirkland, 50, purchased the Bagel Maker in downtown Panama City with her husband James Kirkland about a month before her death, which was confirmed by an employee of the business, who requested to remain anonymous.
In a recent interview, Kirkland said she hoped to make the restaurant a “heart piece” of the city by operating under the motto: food, family and fun. She also emphasized the importance of connecting with the community.
Kirkland lived in Panama City for more than 20 years and ran several other business, including Answer Marketing, Loyal to Local Cash Mob and A-Team Bay County.
She has said that she hoped to use her marketing ideas to spotlight a different local business each week.
A press release from the Florida Highway Patrol states the tractor trailer truck she hit was driven by a 20-year-old unnamed Panama City man, who attempted to make a U-turn at a paved median in an unlit area of the road.
Kirkland was pronounced dead on scene. Both she and the other driver were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
