Posted on 09/06/2004 12:14:02 PM PDT by AUsome Joy
QUINCY, Fla. -- A grandson and a former son-in-law of Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden were killed when their car was hit a by a utility truck that was helping to restore power outages caused by Hurricane Frances.
John Allen Madden, a 45-year-old former Florida State lineman who played under Bowden, and his 15-year-old son, Bowden Madden, were killed instantly Sunday when the passenger side of their car hit the front of the truck, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Robert Mills said Monday.
Mills said the Bowden family had been informed of the deaths.
"Most of us have been around all of the Bowden family a great deal, and it is a loss shared by all of us," Florida State athletic director Dave Hart said in a statement. "Words can't express the grieving I know the Bowdens are going through."
The driver of the truck, Danny Headley, was not injured.
Moments before the collision on rain-slicked Interstate 10, the Maddens' car bumped a van as the two were traveling side by side, causing both vehicles to cross over the highway median and the van to end up in the woods.
The two passengers in the van -- Larry Maines and his wife, Margaret -- had minor injuries but did not need to be hospitalized.
John Madden and Bowden's daughter Ginger divorced in January after 22 years of marriage.
Continued:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1875778
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Very sad. Prayers go out to the families.
Very sad, but note, please the big error in the first sentence...The ulitity truck did NOT hit Madden's car..it was the other way around..
Thanks for pointing out the error. It was in the article.
John Allen Madden, a 45-year-old former Florida State lineman who played under Bowden, and his 15-year-old son, Bowden Madden, were killed instantly Sunday when the passenger side of their car hit the front of the truck, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Robert Mills said Monday.
I hate sloppy reporting. In the first paragraph, the truck hit the car. In the second paragraph, the car hit the truck. Which is it?
Sad news either way.
1994?
That was my error. How do I get it edited?
Title a little confusing too. Did the accident happen IN the hurricaine, or was the accident caused in part by gale-force wind or driving rain?
Who knows..sadly, there was probably no earthly reason for them to be out on the road. BT..didn't know that Bowden's former son in law was named "Madden"
(09/06/04)
Bobby Bowden's grandson, former son-in-law die in car wreck
By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
sholder@herald.com
snip
John Allen Madden, 45, and Bowden Madden, 15, were struck broadside by a utility truck on slippery Interstate 10 near Quincy when their car skidded across the median and into the oncoming traffic, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP investigators determined the two were killed on impact. The area was feeling the effects of the outer bands of Tropical Storm Frances at the time of the accident.
Snip
The elder Madden married Bowden's daughter, Ginger, in 1981. They reportedly were divorced earlier this year. John Madden was FSU's starting center as a senior in 1980 after playing four years for the Seminoles. A close-knit Southern family, the tragedy is expected to take a considerable toll on the Bowdens, particularly Ginger, who is an assistant state attorney in Oklaloosa County. In addition to her father coaching FSU, her brother, Tommy, is the coach at Clemson, and another brother, Jeff, is FSU's offensive coordinator.
(exerpted)More at the following link.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/colleges/florida_state_university/9595578.htm
See post 11 for more information.
Prayers for Bobby and his family.
Prayers up.
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