CHRISTMAS, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that 22-year-old Russell Lee Newby of DeFuniak Springs, Florida has died as a result of injuries he sustained in a fatal crash that occurred at 4:25 a.m. this morning on State Road 528 just one-third of a mile east of State Road 520.
FHP troopers say that Newby was a passenger in a 2005 GMC Truck which was pulling a U-Haul trailer and driven by 58-year-old Cornel A. Burnett also of DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
According to the FHP report, Burnett was traveling eastbound in the left lane of State Road 528 behind a 2002 Ford F250 pickup truck which was also pulling a trailer. Burnett failed to travel at a safe distance behind pickup truck. The front left of the GMC struck the rear of the Ford’s trailer. Burnett applied the brakes and steered right, where the GMC traveled off the south shoulder of the roadway.
The GMC with the U-Haul continued down a slight embankment where it struck several trees. The Ford slowed and pulled to the south shoulder of the roadway.
FHP says that this crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.