Local man dies in single vehicle accident

By Carrie A. Mizell

A 3-month-old baby lost his father on Sunday night after a single vehicle accident on State Road 24, just 14 miles east of Cedar Key.
Rickey Ezell Jr., 22, of Otter Creek, was returning home from work in Cedar Key on Sunday when the accident occurred at 8 p.m. Ezell was driving a 2005 Kia east on State Road 24 when he ran off the shoulder of the highway for an unknown reason.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s accident report, the car continued eastbound on the grass shoulder for over 1000 feet before the front collided with a utility pole. The pole broke as the vehicle traveled through it before overturning several times. The vehicle then caught fire and was completely consumed.
A reception will be held at Chiefland Baptist Church on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. followed by a memorial service for Rickey Ezell, which will begin at 6 p.m. at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home in Chiefland beginning at 6 p.m. Bro. Billy Philman and Bro. Mark Collins will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, Rickey Ezell’s family asks that donations be made to a fund that has been set up at Drummond Bank. The fund will benefit Rickey’s wife, Bessie and son, Griffin.