Land returns to head Civic
On the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 9, North Fort Myers Civic Association president Michael Land was on top of the world. His North Fort Myers Renaissance luncheon at the Shell Factory was an enormous success, and everyone was talking about North Fort Myers as a place of growth.
Hours later, his life turned upside down. That evening, a car crash left him injured and it was uncertain if he would survive the night, much less return to a normal life.
Miraculously, Land has made a significant recovery and was released from rehab on Monday. From the neck up, he said he’s fine. However, he still has significant healing remaining to both his eyes.
But he expected to be back to lead the civic association when it held its monthly meeting at the recreation center Tuesday.
“It’s good to return. It was a long month of pain and treatment, two weeks in the hospital and two more in rehab, and I’m glad to be out and be able to sleep in my own bed,” Land said. “I’m looking forward to Tuesday and help move the civic association and North Fort Myers forward.”
Land was driving down Hancock Bridge Parkway on the evening of Oct. 9 when Land said he blacked out as he approached the intersection. Moments later, another vehicle with two females inside collided with him.
Land, the lone passenger in the vehicle, said he doesn’t remember the accident and that a reaction to his heart medication may have had something to do with his blacking out.
Police reports state Land was not wearing his seat belt, which Land says is not accurate. The two passengers in the other vehicle received only minor injuries.
Land was not so lucky, sustaining severe injuries to his face, ribs and back.
“Both eyelids are still slashed and I’ve already had three eye surgeries,” Land said. “I’ve got blurred vision in my right eye and my left eye was swollen shut until yesterday. I can see, but the vision is not clear.”
Among the things Land intended to do was to make a motion for the association to form a committee that will meet once a month to develop ideas to move North Fort Myers forward.
“It will consist of the civic association members and the key players in town as well as the owners of the shopping centers in town as well as representatives of the key county organizations,” Land said.
In the month Land has been gone, the momentum his continued. The sale of Merchant Crossing and Paradise Preserve have occurred and the talk has continued regarding Marshall’s and Ross’ moving into the Hancock Square Shopping Center as anchor stores.
“It’s unfortunate I had the accident, but it’s not going to keep us down,” Land said.