Published: August 15, 2008 11:04 am            

Wellborn man unhurt in crash that claims life of Sanderson resident

A Wellborn man escaped injury in a Columbia County crash that claimed the life of a Sanderson man Thursday.

Robert Edwin Noble, Jr., 48, Wellborn, was unhurt when his 2006 Ford F-450 was sideswiped by a 2004 Chevrolet Impala driven by James Heard, 59, Sanderson, who died at the scene from his injuries, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

According to FHP, Heard was traveling east at a high rate of speed, in heavy rain, on US 90 about 5.7 miles east of Lake City at about 11:15 a.m. when his vehicle hydroplaned, causing it to swerve hard to the left, rotate in a counter clockwise direction and veer across the travel lanes toward the north shoulder, according to FHP. The vehicle then crossed into the westbound lane where its front left sideswiped the left rear of Noble’s truck, causing minor damage. The Impala then entered the north shoulder and struck a pine tree on the driver and left passenger side, causing Heard to sustain fatal blunt trauma injuries, said FHP.

Heard was not wearing a safety belt, reports indicate. No charges will be filed in the incident, said FHP.

        

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