Highway 98 accident involves fatality (updated)

The Florida Highway Patrol has updated the information it has released involving a Saturday night traffic accident in Gulf Breeze that claimd the life of one individual.

Germaine L. Bindi, 77 of Gulf Breeze, died at 3:04 a.m. Sunday morning at Baptist Hospital according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Bindi, was a passenger in the car driven by Victor P. Bindi, 73, also of Gulf Breeze.

According to a press release from the FHP, a two car mishap occurred on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa County could have been the result of two cars racing Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

The crash involved two cars colliding at the intersection of Highway 98 and Twin Pine Blvd.

The FHP press release stated witnesses reporting Logan B. Drinkard, 21, of Pensacola, was racing with a second vehicle at a high rate of speed as he was headed eastbound on Gulf Breeze Parkway (Highway 98).

Victor P. Bindi was attempting to make a left turn from Highway 98 onto Twin Pine Boulevard when Drinkard's car struck the passenger’s side door of Victor Bindi's car.

The release stated the impact spun Victor Bindi's car in a counter clockwise direction, while Drinkard's car continued off the roadway, struck a stop sign and post before the undercarriage struck a guide wire from a power pole.

Drinkard's car then struck a property sign and pine tree before coming to a stop.

The FHP is trying to find the driver of the second vehicle to assist in its investigation. It is described as a Pontiac GTO, two door that is burnt orange or bronze in color. There was no damage to this vehicle.

The FHP report originally indicated there was alcohol involved in the Bindi vehicle, but that was not the case according to an updated release issued Monday.

Charges in relation to the accident are still pending.