After Destin’s annual fireworks show, two pedestrians were hit in separate incidents on Highway 98.
With more than 5-inches of rain having fallen as of Thursday, according to Weather Station Destin, deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department found themselves responding to traffic crashes throughout the city.
All told, Public Information Officer Michele Nicholson told The Log that there were a total of 26 vehicle related incidents in Destin between 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday morning.
"It wasn't just cars hitting cars," she said, noting that two pedestrians were hit by cars Thursday night.
The first call came in around 10:23 p.m. after a woman was hit near the Donut Hole in the westbound lanes. The woman was transported by EMS and the accident remains under investigation.
The second incident happened just before 11 p.m. when a male pedestrian was struck by a car near the Waffle House in old Destin. The man was spotted in the median bleeding and he was transported to the Coast Guard Station before being flown by helicopter to Sacred Heart in Pensacola.
Wednesday was also an active day for deputies and first responders, as two separate incidents took place on Airport Road, near the curve at the Destin Airport.
The first crash saw an SUV run into the airport's perimeter fence. The driver was taken to the hospital, but injuries were not life-threatening.
The second incident involved a Toyota Tacoma that had crashed and rolled over onto its roof. According to the incident report from the sheriff's office, "the suspect has very bloodshot and glassy eyes, and as he spoke he had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath."
After treatment, the man was arrested on charges of driving under the influence.
While the wet weather likely contributed to the accidents, there were no reports of seriously flooded roadways in the Destin area.
Lifeguards on Destin's beaches were also active, Beach Safety Chief Joe D'Agostino told The Log.
"We made rescues yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday)," he said. "There are still a lot of people sitting in the rain."
D'Agostino told The Log that conditions were not favorable for swimming, so lifeguards were warning beachgoers of the dangers. While the conditions are expected to improve Sunday, he said they still wouldn't be "normal."
"It's hard when people are on vacation," he said. "Sure, they come here to play golf and go shopping, but the main reason they come is to go to the beach."
The Destin fireworks show as seen by Niceville photographer Mallory Lane from the fourth floor of Jetty East on Holiday Isle. Despite the near constant rainfall over the past few days, the city's annual fireworks display went off without a hitch, as other Fourth of July festivities had been canceled throughout the Panhandle due to inclement weather.
"They were great," said Doug Rainer, the city's public information manager. "The weather cleared right up."