Wakulla County Sheriff's Office officials investigated a multi-vehicle traffic accident on Thursday, Jan. 21 that occurred on U.S. Highway 319 near Emmett Whaley Road, according to Sheriff David Harvey.

Four vehicles were involved in the rear-end crash that occurred at 2:17 p.m. There were seven juvenile victims from Wakulla High School. A number of emergency vehicles were called to the scene and the victims were transported to Tallahassee hospitals by ambulances.

Det. Bruce Ashley said the victims do not have life threatening injuries.
However, one of the students was thrown into the windshield and another was trapped inside a vehicle for a short period of time. "The message we want to get across is that none of them were wearing their seatbelts," said Ashley.

Captain Jones said all of the students have been treated and released from the hospital. Five of the seven students were transported for treatment, he said.

A 16-year-old Crawfordville juvenile was charged with careless driving. All of the vehicles were traveling north on U.S. Highway 319 when one of the vehicles began to make a turn onto Emmett Whaley Road. The charged driver failed to stop and created a chain reaction accident of vehicles striking the cars in front of them, according to the report.

Captain Billy Jones was the lead investigator for the sheriff's office and Deputy Ben Steinle also investigated and the Florida Highway Patrol assisted at the scene.

In other activity reported by the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office during the past week:
• On Jan. 19, a fire was reported in the Wakulla High School boy's restroom by James Rodney Bennett of Crawfordville. Bennett put out the fire which started in a trash can. A 15-year-old and 16-year-old student were identified as suspects through evidence at the scene and they face arson charges. Lt. Ray Johnson Deputy Nick Gray, Det. Lindsay Allen and Det. Sean Wheeler investigated.
• On Jan. 19, Carolyn Sherrell of Crawfordville reported a burglary at Sandy Bottoms Bar on the Woodville Highway. A forced entry into a cash register was reported and $180 was stolen. Sgt. Jud McAlpin investigated.
• On Jan. 19, Cherylyn Mills-Brown of Crawfordville reported a residential burglary. A computer, electronic games and coins were reported missing. The value of the stolen property was $1,150. Deputy Ward Kromer investigated.
• On Jan. 20, Charles C. Aller of Crawfordville reported the theft of a package. Clothing and ammunition, valued at $50, were reported missing. Deputy Nathan Taylor investigated.
• On Jan. 20, Janis M. David of Crawfordville reported a forgery as several $100 bills were determined to be fake. The victim was contacted by her bank. Deputy Nick Boutwell investigated.
• On Jan. 21, Janice A. Stone of Crawfordville reported a vehicle burglary. Someone removed medications from her vehicle. The loss is estimated at $10. Deputy Michael Lawhon investigated.
• On Jan. 21, Davis J. Strack of Crawfordville reported a fraud. Money was withdrawn from the victim's bank account. The bogus withdrawals totaled more than $150 from Montreal and New Hampshire. Deputy Charles Porter investigated.
• On Jan. 15, Tena L. Altman of Crawfordville reported a forgery as she received counterfeit money. The money was a $5 bill. Deputy Nathan Taylor investigated.
• On Jan. 15, Pollie Lawhon of Sopchoppy reported a $350 fraud on her bank account. The charge was for cable which the victim does not have. Deputy Evelyn Brown investigated.
• On Jan. 18, a criminal mischief was reported by Randolph W. Howell of Crawfordville. Someone vandalized his mailbox. Damage was estimated at $50. Deputy Ward Kromer investigated.
• On Jan. 25, Bob Nichols of Sopchoppy reported a structure fire. A mobile home was engulfed when firefighters arrived at Lonnie Raker Road in Crawfordville. A witness spotted the fire and called emergency personnel.
The cause of the fire is unknown. The mobile home was valued at $10,000. The state Fire Marshal was called to investigate. Deputy Mitchell Revels investigated.
• On Jan. 22, Jeremy S. Degrove of Crawfordville reported a grand theft at his home. A total of $1,072 worth of jewelry and electronics were stolen. A suspect has been identified. Deputy Anthony Curles investigated.
• On Jan 22, a felony criminal mischief was reported by Lawrence D.
Flanagan of Crawfordville. Damage was observed to his home and septic system which was estimated at $8,515. Deputy Ruel Raker investigated.
• On Jan. 22, Thomas S. Hunt of Crawfordville reported a grand theft as $2,094 worth of tools were stolen from his vehicle. A suspect has been identified. Deputy Ruel Raker investigated.

The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office received 721 calls for service during the past week.

Note to our readers: The people who are reported as charged with crimes in this column have not yet been to trial and are therefore innocent until proven guilty.