DATE: October 11, 2020 @ 3:41 am
VEHICLE 1: 2002 Silver Ford Explorer SUV, Florida tag, driven by Nathaniel Christian O’Dea, W/M, 10-18-91, 833 SW 56 Street, Cape Coral, Florida 33914. O’Dea suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention.
VEHICLE 2: 2005 Gray Nissan Altima, Florida tag, driven by Dwight Headley Reynolds, B/M, Port Charlotte, Florida. Reynolds suffered life-threatening injuries.
PASSENGER: George Junior Troy Smith III, B/M, Naples, Florida. Smith died at Cape Coral Hospital due to injuries suffered in the traffic crash.
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 1 (Ford Explorer) was driving South on Burnt Store Road. Vehicle 2 (Nissan Altima) was driving North on Burnt Store Road.
Vehicle 1 began to drive South in the North lane of Burnt Store Road, directly into the path of travel of Vehicle 2. Vehicle 2 attempted to avoid Vehicle 1 by skidding and pulling to the left just prior to the traffic crash. Both vehicles struck head on. Both vehicles came to rest (Vehicle 1 facing South in the North lane, Vehicle 2 facing North in the North lane near the center line of the roadway).
The driver of Vehicle 1 suffered minor injuries and refused medical transport.
The driver of Vehicle 2, was airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. The passenger of Vehicle 2, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he died of injuries suffered in the traffic crash.
It was determined that Vehicle 1 was at fault in the traffic crash and a DUI investigation was conducted on the driver. Upon completion, the driver was placed under arrest and provided a breath test at the Cape Coral Police Department. Breath results showed that the driver had a BAC of 0.181 and 0.173.
It was further determined that the driver of Vehicle 2 had a medical blood alcohol level of 0.151.
Traffic Homicide Investigator’s Satterlee, Barkley, and Wilson responded. Forensic Technician Potts and Victim Advocate Tucker assisted. FDLE responded and assisted with scene mapping, and LCSO aviation assisted with aerial photographs.
The driver of Vehicle 1, Nathaniel Christian O’Dea, was arrested and charged with the following:
- 1 count- DUI Manslaughter
- 1 count- DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury
- 1 count- DUI Causing Property Damage
Alcohol IS a factor in this traffic crash. Next of kin HAS BEEN notified.
If you witnessed this traffic crash or have information about this traffic crash, please contact the Cape Coral Police Department by calling 239-574-3223, submitting an anonymous tip at www.capecops.com/tips, https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous, sending us a message through our social media platforms or calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. Please use the Case Report # 20-018895.
