Accident at I-10 and 231 leaves two critical

Two Florida men were critically injured after rear-ending a semi-truck Friday as the trucker was attempting to make a left-hand turn onto the interstate in Jackson County.

Jack Sears, 77, of Panama City, and Donald Holman, 70, of Fountain, were southbound on U.S. 231 South when a semi driven by John Kenny of Lutz, Fla., attempted to turn onto I-10. Sears, who was driving a Ford Ranger, was traveling about 55 miles per hour as he drifted into the left lane, and hit the truck.

Sears was transported to Southeast Alabama Medical Center in critical condition. Holman was taken to Bay Medical Center, where he was in critical condition. Neither man was wearing a seat belt, according to an accident report released by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Kenny was uninjured and was wearing a seat belt.

The accident, which occurred at 11:01 a.m., remains under investigation. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, according to the report.