Coughing Spell Causes Serious Injury

Posted: Sun 10:57 AM, Dec 16, 2012

A northwest Florida man was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital Saturday after a single vehicle crash on I-10 in Walton County.

The Florida Highway Patrol says 46-year-old Troy Blackburn from Mary Ether was eastbound on I-10. He drove off the road and crossed the median about two miles west of DeFuniak Springs, then crossed the westbound lanes and hit two trees.

Blackburn was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated from his SUV by rescue crews. He was then airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

Blackburn told firefighters he had a coughing spell and blacked out before the crash.

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