According to Vindy, Courtney Miller, a 21-year-old Ohio State University senior from Niles who died in a Florida traffic accident, will be remembered fondly in her hometown.
The 2009 Niles McKinley High School graduate was one of two Ohio women returning from spring break who died after a crash in the Florida panhandle. Seven other people were hospitalized, and several remained in serious condition Sunday night.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report, Brittney Gallagher of Willoughby, Ohio, was driving near Ebro on Saturday morning when she drifted into opposing traffic. Troopers said Gallagher’s attempts to correct the problem caused her vehicle to rotate and cross into the path of a pickup truck driven by Kelly Porter of Stillwater, Okla.
Gallagher and Miller, the front-seat passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said each was wearing a seat belt.
Two other passengers, Diana Mitchell of Solon, Ohio, and Lauren Kane of Willoughby, Ohio, were hospitalized in critical condition Sunday night.
They were all spring-break visitors returning to Ohio, Bill May, Walton County Fire Rescue battalion chief, told the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Authorities said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
