December 28, 2014 Kaylon Varnes Intersection of Highway 207 and 13- Downtown Hastings Florida

This was a sad and terrible accident, happening early in the morning-  The deceased was a 29 year old on the way home from work, the driver, a 50 year old- who ultimately got 5 years for the accident.  

A man who formerly lived in Clay County faces charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with a fatal crash in May that killed a Putnam County man. The accident happened in downtown Hastings.
Paul Kevin Ditch, 49, was booked into the St. Johns County jail Tuesday morning on the charges, both of which are second-degree felonies.
His bond was set at $15,000, and he was released Tuesday.
On May 11 around 1 a.m., Ditch was driving a Toyota Tacoma south on State Road 207 near Main Street in Hastings when his car struck the back of a Nissan Altima driven by Kaylon Omar Varnes, 29, of Grandin, according to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report. Grandin is a small town in Putnam County.
The report lists an address for Ditch in Fleming Island, which is in Clay County, but St. Johns County booking records show that Ditch now lives in Alexandria, Va.
Ditch’s car overturned and spun around, but he was not injured.
Varnes was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:09 a.m. Both were wearing seatbelts.
Ditch told a trooper that before the crash “he looked to his left noticing the Kangaroo gas station located on the north east corner of S.R. 207 and Main Street when all of [the] sudden his air bags went off,” according to the report.
He said he chose to drive home via S.R. 207 “because he was uncomfortable driving on the interstate.”
Ditch said he was not driving fast, according to the report.
Officials gave Ditch a blood alcohol test after the crash, which showed his blood alcohol content at .076, said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Dylan Bryan. That is below the legal limit of .08.
Even though Ditch’s blood alcohol meant that he was not legally drunk, officials can charge someone with DUI if they believe that the person was too impaired to drive safely, Bryan said.
Hank Coxe, a lawyer at the Bedell firm in Jacksonville, is representing Paul Ditch.
Coxe said, “It’s a most unfortunate event, and we’ll deal with it in court,” but had no other comments about the case.
Ditch voluntarily surrendered himself at the Sheriff’s Office after learning charges were going to be filed, Coxe said.

Trying to find some balance between justice, compassion and responsibility, Judge Michael Traynor handed Paul Ditch a five-year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter on Wednesday.
Ditch, 50, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge, taking responsibility for a May 11, 2012, crash on State Road 207 in Hastings that killed Kaylon Omar Varnes.
“The lives of both families are going to be affected by what I do,” Traynor said before issuing the sentence. “I wish there was something I could say that would bring some sense to this.”
Traynor was forced to weigh statements by family members of the victim and those by friends and the wife of Ditch.
Ditch himself was the last to speak. He talked about remorse without directly asking for leniency from the court.
“Not a minute goes by that I don’t wish I could trade places with (Varnes),” Ditch said. “I can never forgive myself. I won’t allow myself to be over it.
“I don’t deserve happiness.”
The judge also had to contend with the facts of the case as presented by Assistant State Attorney Chris France.
France said Ditch was traveling at around 67 mph in a zone with a 45 mph speed limit when he crashed his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck into Varnes’ 1999 Nissan Altima, which was stopped at a traffic signal.
He also referred to the investigation that revealed Ditch’s blood-alcohol level at .076. That is just below the legal limit of .08. But France said the blood test was performed more than four hours after the crash occurred.
France asked the court to impose a sentence in line with the state’s guidelines. Ditch’s official score sheet suggested a prison sentence of 111 months. Because the crime was a second-degree felony, Traynor could have imposed a sentence of 15 years in prison.
“It’s a sad case; it’s a tragic case,” France said. “He (Ditch) is responsible for it.”
Varnes, who was 29 when he died, was coming home from work at about 1 a.m. when the wreck occurred. The Putnam County resident was a graduate of University of Florida and described by relatives as a math whiz.
Several members of the Varnes family asked for the maximum sentence, including Kaylon’s mother, Karen.
“He didn’t deserve to die like this,” she told the court.
Some of the anger resulted from the lack of a formal apology to the family. But Traynor explained to them in Wednesday’s hearing that Ditch had been advised by the state to avoid contact with the family prior to the sentencing hearing.
Those who spoke on behalf of Ditch mentioned how devastated he was by the wreck. They also talked about his commitment to service as a commander in the Navy.
Defense attorney Henry Coxe called Ditch a model citizen outside of one tragic mistake.
“(It was) an isolated event for which he has taken responsibility,” Coxe said. “He has done in his lifetime everything our society would ask. His very existence is to protect the people under him.”
In addition to the prison time, Traynor also issued a lifetime suspension of Ditch’s driver’s license, 10 years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.

On a backroad from Wildwood, Florida September 27, 2014

Passed by this one originally on the way to the Royal School marker, caught it on the way back-
Had some age on it, was not marked or maintained-   

Not sure if the 2 crosses means two died, or just what. 

September 26 2014 Near Wahoo Springs, Florida

This was near a crossroads of Wahoo Swamp Florida, for a young lady named Amanda.  

Either she didn't make the curve, or came out from the side road and got hit.  Didn't see anything from a Google search. 

June 9th A Visit to the Nixons

While on the trip to California, Cooper and I managed to get by the Nixon Library, where the President and Ms Nixon are laid to rest-  really kind of plain, as to others I've seen....

The Old Tabernacle Cemetery Cokesbury, Greenwood County SC

Tabernacle Cemetery

Inscription. [Original Marker] Site of Old Tabernacle Methodist Church. Buried here are Confederate Generals Martin Witherspoon Gary, Nathan George Evans and other Confederate officers and soldiers. [Second Marker] 1000 feet east is Tabernacle Cemetery on the site of Tabernacle Methodist Church and Tabernacle Academy. Buried here are Generals M.W. Gary & N.G. Evans and other Confederate veterans. From Tabernacle Academy organized in 1820 by Stephen Olin developed Mount Ariel and Cokesbury Conference School. Erected by Robert A Walker and John McKellan Reynolds Chapters, United Daughters of the Confederacy. (Marker Number 24-5.) Marker series. This marker is included in the United Daughters of the Confederacy marker series. Location. 34° 15.98′ N, 82° 11.252′ W. Marker is in Hodges, South Carolina, in Greenwood County. Marker is on Cokesbury Road (South Carolina Route 254), on the left when traveling east. Click for map. North of the marker is a short paved area. This is the start of Tabernacle Cemetery Road. The "road" follows the tree line south and enters the woods behind the business on Cokesbury Road. Once you enter the woods, the cemetery will come into view Here was the gravesite for Gen Martin W. Gary, who was quite famous locally: And for Gen Evans:

June 2014 Greenwood SC The Maxwell Family Burials Site

This mausoleum is on the grounds of the Connie Maxwell Children's home in Greenwood, SC.  

The Rev and Ms Maxwell established an orphanage back in 1892 and it has grown to its present village, housing several hundred children.  It is sponsored by the Baptist Church.  

Dr. Maxwell's residence is also on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in downtown Greenwood:

May 29th Florida Highway 308 near Crescent City Florida

High speed and late at night-  bad combination,   2 gone.  

Two Crescent City men were killed early Sunday when their vehicle left the road and was torn in half by a tree.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Christ Gomez and Hernan Hernandez were traveling east at a high speed on County Road 308 in Putnam County about 2:45 a.m. when their Honda Civic left the road on a curve.

The Highway Patrol report said the vehicle collided with a utility poll, a tree and then another tree. The vehicle was torn in half when it wrapped around the final tree, killing both men.

Gomez was 24, Hernandez was 21. Both men were wearing seat belts, the FHP said.

May 28 2014 Clifford Johnson - West King Street, St Augustine Florida

Came across this on the way to a historical marker today... On King St before Holmes Ave.

Wasn't sure about the Boxing Gloves, now that I did the research, he was a boxer locally.....

'Tiger Joe,' former pro boxer, hit as he rode his bicycle on West King Street

Clifford "Tiger Joe" Johnson, 63, passed away on April 19, 2013, due to an accident .Clifford was born on Aug. 13, 1949, in St. Augustine, Fla., to the late John Christie and the late Elouise Cooper Blevins. He graduated from Richard J. Murray High School in 1967. As a child, Clifford was raised in the Church of God on Twine Street .Clifford took pride in mowing and cleaning lawns for many years in the Lincolnville and Westside Community. He loved his dogs, Monster, Little Dickens and Crush (deceased). His past career as a professional boxer, with appearances in Miami, Bahamas and one event in St. Augustine. Clifford is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford L. Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson, and a sister Darla Cooper Powe .Clifford is survived by three sons, Clifford Jr., Kevin Johnson and Dwayne K. Baker, all of St. Augustine; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; four brothers, sister, other relatives and devoted friends, including Mr. and Mrs. George (Ollie) Smith .Those wishing to make donations to the burial fund of Clifford "Tiger Joe" Johnson may do so by making a deposit into the account set up for Mr. Johnson at Wells Fargo, please forward all donations to ACCT# 2320716166, it is with grateful hearts of appreciation the family acknowledges your thoughtful gifts of love .Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Dawson Chapel CME Church, the Rev. Ronald Stafford, Officiating, the Rev. Trudye Thompson, pastor. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Calling Hours are 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Chase Chapel and at 10 a.m. Saturday until the hour of service.P rofessional services entrusted to Leo C. Chase & Son Funeral Home. 

May 17 2014 Chad Goode Columbia County Florida

Was not able to learn anything about this site- Google search was nil.

May 16th On the road to Perry, Florida A terrific story Navy Lt. Robert Allison

I was attracted to this one because of the big US Flag, slowly wafting in the breeze.  Took the shots, then learned about the story later tonight. Quite a story for this one:

On August 11, 1955 at approximately 1600 hours, Lt Robert Clem Allison was returning on a routine training mission from Pensacola NAS back to Jacksonville's Cecil Field when his F2H4 Banshee jet aircraft sustained a catastrophic in flight emergency requiring him to immediate land. Fortunately Lt. Allison was able to touch down on Highway 27 about 12 miles East of Perry, Florida. As he was making his final roll out a fully loaded log truck and another vehicle came around the curve just in front of him. Lt. Allison only had seconds to make a decision and his final decision was to give his failing aircraft full throttle, pulled up and fly it into a cypress swamp just off the side of the highway. Don L. Whitfield, the driver of the log truck said the aircraft missed the cab of his truck by inches, “I knew I was going to die, either by crashing into the ditch in my loaded truck or be killed by the jet.” Lt. Allison’s funeral was conducted in his home town of Robinson, Illinois. In his obituary it was stated he had died during a routine training mission therefore none of his friends and probably most of his family never knew the true sacrifice that he had made. It is still unclear if he was decorated by the Department of Navy for his heroism.
During the Korean War, Lt. Allison served 18 months on the heavy cruiser USS Bremerton and was commissioned a Navy Lieutenant (JG) upon his graduation from the US Naval Academy in 1952. In January 1954, he began flight training at Pensacola NAS and was subsequently reassigned to Cecil Field in Jacksonville.

A Banshee, of the type the LT was flying. 

May 14 On a rural road headed towards Wellborn Florida

Did not see a name for this one-  pretty sure it was a young man, guessing from the decorations. 

May 14, 2014 On the way to Suwanee State Park Florida

Was not able to gather any details about this young lady.   

May 4th Wildwood Drive and Winterhawk St Augustine

This was a sad accident-  Driven by it several times, but didn't photograph it until today...

Teen dies in bike crash

Woman was riding dirt bike on Wildwood Drive when struck

A grief-stricken father fell to his knees, his hands covering his face, as he learned his 18-year-old daughter died Thursday when she was struck by a car as she rode a dirt bike on Wildwood Drive near Winterhawk Drive.

Shae Lynn Burchfield was riding a Honda motorized bike around 3 p.m. when Frederick Andrews, 50, hit her in his 1994 red Ford Bronco, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bike erupted into flames on the road.

Investigators had not determined if alcohol was a factor. It was also unclear if the victim was wearing a helmet.

A man and his daughter driving on Wildwood Drive, the first to drive by after the accident, tried to help Burchfield.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue medics performed CPR, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

As investigators examined the scene, a St. Johns County deputy tried to hold onto Burchfield's father and comfort him.

Burchfield's sister sat in the shade at the intersection of Wildwood Drive and Winterhawk Drive, less than a block from her home, sobbing, "She's gone; nothing matters anymore," while surrounded by her family.

Family members did their best to restrain her as she cried out and attempted to lunge through the police tape when deputies pronounced her older sister dead on the roadway.

The family did not stay for long. Neighbors gathered where the street had been closed off, teary-eyed and shocked that the young woman from down the street was now dead.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers and St. Johns County Sheriff's deputies closed Wildwood Drive for more than an hour on Thursday while they investigated the scene and cleared the roadway.