Passenger Dies In Head-On Crash On Merritt Island

By  //  September 17, 2012

Two Drivers Airlifted For Treatment

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – A Merritt Island man was killed in a  head-on collision Monday morning on South Tropical Trail just north of the Pineda Causeway.   

Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said William R. Jones of Merritt Island, 38, was a passenger in a 1986 Chevy Celebrity headed north on Tropical Trail driven by Melissa Chapman of Merritt Island, 35, about 11:35 a.m. Monday.

A 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by John Hartman of Melbourne, 70, was headed south on Tropical Trail at the same time.

Montes said Hartman became distracted and looked down and when he looked up he had drifted into the northbound lane of Tropical Trail.

The vehicles collided head-on.

Hartman and Chapman were airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne after sustaining serious injuries.

Jones was transported to Viera Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending,” Montes said.