SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla., Aug. 23, 2022—A two-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 injured six people yesterday afternoon.

The accident happened about 3:40 p.m. around mile marker 40 in Santa Rosa County, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release, shutting down westbound traffic for more than three hours.

According to the release, a Chevrolet pickup truck with five men from Panama City, Fla., traveling east on I-10 crossed the median into the westbound lanes of traffic, hitting a westbound GMC sport utility vehicle.

The St Petersburg, Fla., driver, the sole occupant of the SUV, was reported to be in critical condition. He was airlifted to an area local hospital.

The driver of the eastbound pickup received minor injuries. His four passengers were reported to have suffered serious injuries, according to the release.

Following the driver’s discharge from an area hospital, the 29-year-old man was arrested for “driving with an expired license for more than six months while causing bodily injuries through the careless driving or negligent operation of a motor vehicle,” according to the release.

The accident closed both westbound lanes of I-10. Westbound interstate traffic, backed up to mile marker 50, was detoured off the highway at exit 45 in Holt to U.S. Highway 90 west.

Those drivers who were stopped directly behind the accident site remained on the interstate for three or more hours as FHP conducted its investigation.

Interstate 10 was reopened around 7:15 p.m.

Multiple agencies from two counties responded to the accident, including Holt Fire District, East Milton Fire Rescue District, Santa Rosa County EMS, Okaloosa County EMS, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the FHP.