The Cape Coral Police Department responded to two separate serious injury crashes this morning, with one of the crashes sadly proving fatal.
The first occurred between a Suzuki motorcycle and a 4-door Hyundai at 6:42 a.m. at the 2600 block of Skyline Boulevard. The motorcyclist, Kyle Rush, DOB: 7-3-90, of North Fort Myers suffered fatal injuries at the scene.
The second unrelated crash occurred between a Ford Mustang and a Chevrolet van at 9:15 a.m. at the 300 block of Diplomat Parkway East, with the Mustang driver suffering serious injuries.
A Ping4alert was sent for both crashes to warn drivers away from the areas. A synopsis for each crash from their respective Traffic Homicide Investigator is below:
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DATE: October 15, 2019
TIME: 6:42 AM
LOCATION: Intersection of Skyline Boulevard and SW 26th Street
VEHICLE 1: Blue 2016 Hyundai Elantra, 4-door car, Florida tag.
DRIVER 1: Theresa M. Hittel, W/F, DOB: 4-25-89, of Cape Coral, FL.
DRIVER 1 INJURIES: Hittel suffered minor injuries in the crash.
VEHICLE 2: Black 2015 Suzuki GSX1300RA motorcycle, Florida tag.
DRIVER 2: Kyle D. Rush, W/M, DOB: 7-3-90, of North Fort Myers, FL.
DRIVER 2 INJURIES: Kyle Rush suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 1 was traveling north on Skyline Boulevard approaching the intersection with SW 26th Street and entered the center median left turn lane. Vehicle 2 was traveling south on Skyline Boulevard in the inside travel lane approaching the intersection with SW 26th Street.
Vehicle 1 u-turned from north to south into the path of Vehicle 2. The front of Vehicle 2 collided with the front passenger door of Vehicle 1. After the impact, Vehicle 2 was directed to the southwest and the motorcyclist separated from the motorcycle. The motorcyclist and motorcycle came to final rest on the sidewalk on the west side of Skyline Boulevard. The impact from Vehicle 2 caused Vehicle 1 to rotate counter-clockwise approximately 180 degrees, and it came to final rest facing northeast, in the inside south lane of Skyline Boulevard.
The driver of Vehicle 1 suffered minor injuries in the crash. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The motorcyclist was wearing a crash helmet. THI Ofc D. Gray and DRE Officer H. Esterle responded. CCPD Forensics and a Victim’s Advocate also responded.
Alcohol/drugs ARE AN UNKNOWN factor in the traffic crash. Next-of-kin HAVE BEEN notified. The southbound lanes of Skyline Boulevard were closed for approximately 4 hours.
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DATE: October 15, 2019
TIME: 9:15 AM
LOCATION: 300 Diplomat Parkway East
VEHICLE 1: Silver 2012 Ford Mustang, 2-Door Convertible, Florida tag.
DRIVER 1: Matthew D. Cartwright, W/M, DOB: 6-16-98, of Cape Coral, FL.
DRIVER 1 INJURIES: Cartwright suffered serious bodily injuries as a result of the crash.
VEHICLE 2: White 2018 Chevrolet Express Utility Van, Florida tag.
DRIVER 2: Jeffrey C. Miller Jr., W/M, DOB: 7-10-97, of Cape Coral, FL.
DRIVER 2 INJURIES: Miller did not suffer injuries as a result of the crash.
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 1 was stopped at the stop sign on NE 3rd Court, facing south, at the intersection of NE 3rd Court and Diplomat Parkway East. Vehicle 2 was traveling westbound, in the inside lane of travel, on
The Lee County School bus began to slow in order to turn right onto NE 3rd Court. Vehicle 1 began to travel southbound across both westbound lanes of travel of Diplomat Parkway East, in an attempt to enter the center median. Vehicle 2 continued westbound, passing the slowing bus, as Vehicle 1 crossed the inside travel lane. The front of Vehicle 2 collided with the driver-side door of Vehicle 1.
Vehicle 2 continued westbound rotating counter-clockwise approximately 45 degrees, coming to final rest in the center median of Diplomat Parkway East at NE 3rd Court.
Vehicle 1 disengaged contact with Vehicle 2 while rotating counter-clockwise approximately 90 degrees. Vehicle 1 continued westbound, rolling backwards, into the eastbound lanes of travel, then continued backwards crossing the center median heading northbound. Vehicle 1 continued traveling northbound, rolling backwards, across both westbound lanes of Diplomat Parkway East, coming to final rest in the field north of Diplomat Parkway East.
The driver of Vehicle 1 suffered serious bodily injuries as a result of the crash and was trauma alert transported to a local hospital. The driver of Vehicle 2 did not suffer any injuries as a result of the crash.
Drug Recognition Expert Officer Esterle responded to the hospital and determined that alcohol/drugs ARE NOT a factor in the traffic crash.
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***There are 15 traffic fatalities and 30 MCI usages in our city in 2019. (There is 1 fatality that is ruled “medical” and the cause of death is not related to injuries in the traffic crash.)
2019: 15 Traffic Fatalities, 4 DUI related (30 MCI usages)(this number DOES NOT INCLUDE 1 medical ruled deaths)
2018: 10 Traffic Fatalities, 3 DUI related (30 MCI usages)(this number DOES NOT INCLUDE 3 medical ruled deaths)
2017: 17 Traffic fatalities, 8 DUI related (46 MCI usages)
2016: 11 Traffic fatalities, 4 DUI related (35 MCI usages)
2015: 13 Traffic fatalities, 9 DUI related (43 MCI usages) (this number DOES NOT INCLUDE 1 medical ruled death)
2014: 10 Traffic fatalities, 5 DUI related (40 MCI usages) (this number DOES NOT INCLUDE 2 medical ruled death)
2013: 19 Traffic fatalities, 6 DUI related (43 MCI usages) (this number DOES NOT INCLUDE 3 medical ruled deaths)
2012: 10 Traffic fatalities, 6 DUI related (21 MCI usages)
