Pedestrian hit by car in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Shortly after 7 p.m. Sept. 20, the Crestview Police Department responded to the intersection of North Ferdon Boulevard and Beech Street in reference to a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic crash.

When officers arrived on scene, 35-year-old Antonio McLaughlin of Crestview was laying in the roadway with serious leg and head injuries after a vehicle hit him.

According to witnesses, McLaughlin was standing in the middle of the northbound turn lane of Ferdon Boulevard designated for vehicles turning left to drive westbound on U.S. Highway 90 (James Lee Boulevard). They said McLaughlin was standing in the middle of the turn lane waiting for other vehicles in other traffic lanes, when 26-year-old Kirkland Long of Crestview, driving a 2014 Dodge four-door, entered into the turn lane with intentions of turning on U.S. Highway 90.

Long advised officers that he was unable to see Mr. McLaughlin in the dark and didn’t expect anyone to be standing in the middle of the road when he struck him, according to a Crestview Police Department media release issued Sept. 21.

"Antonio McLaughlin was transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center with leg and head injuries and was listed in stable condition at the time of the [CPD media] release. "McLaughlin was not utilizing a cross walk which was available to him at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 which is approximately 150 feet from the location where he was struck. There were no improper driving actions made by Mr. Kirkland and there are no charges pending in this accident," the release stated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pedestrian hit by car in Crestview