FL Man Christopher ‘CJ’ McClellan ID’d As Victim Killed In Crestview Homemade Go-Kart Crash

CRESTVIEW, FL. (THECOUNT) — — Christopher Clayton McClellan Jr., 32, of Crestview, Florida, was killed Friday night after the homemade go-kart he was operating collided with an oncoming pickup truck in Okaloosa County. A 26-year-old Crestview man was driving the GMC pickup truck involved in the crash.

McClellan was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, on Garden City Road, approximately 100 feet south of Swan Avenue in Crestview.

Troopers said McClellan was driving the homemade go-kart southbound on Garden City Road when the vehicle drifted onto the west shoulder. He then lost control, causing the go-kart to re-enter the roadway and travel into the path of oncoming traffic.

A northbound GMC pickup truck, driven by the 26-year-old Crestview resident, struck the front left side of the go-kart. Both vehicles came to a stop near the point of impact. McClellan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The pickup truck driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The Florida Highway Patrol has not released any information regarding contributing factors, speed, or whether charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

A GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Lay Christopher Clayton McClellan Jr. to Rest” was created by Gary Joslin to assist the family with funeral and burial expenses. According to the campaign, McClellan had no insurance or resources to cover funeral costs. Joslin wrote that McClellan’s sudden passing has left his family and friends heartbroken and that the funds will go directly toward funeral expenses “ensuring that Christopher can be laid to rest with dignity and respect.”

Garden City Road is a rural roadway in the Crestview area of Okaloosa County. The section where the crash occurred is a two-lane road with limited shoulder space.

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

View approximate location on Google Maps

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