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Police report: Driver speeding at time of fatal accident

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A driver involved in a recent, fatal vehicle-versus-bicycle accident was allegedly speeding.

On Sunday, Jason William Stewart, 44, of 3619 N.E. 18th Ave., was driving east on Diplomat Parkway East in the outside lane in a Chevrolet Corvette.

At about 3:37 p.m. in the 600 block, the front end of the car struck the back tire of a bicyclist, who was also headed east in the outside lane.

The bicyclist, William Scott Johnsen, 60, 3506 S.E. 10th Place, was “totally ejected” and thrown onto the windshield of the Corvette. According to the crash report, Stewart failed to observe Johnsen.

The Corvette then left the roadway and entered an empty field on the south side of Diplomat. The car continued to travel east, where Johnsen was ejected from the Corvette and landed in a ditch.

The report states that the car then drove back onto the eastbound lanes of Diplomat, before crossing over all of those lanes and entering the grass median. The Corvette next traveled across the westbound lanes and entered another empty field to the north of Diplomat, where it finally came to its final rest.

Johnsen died on scene, reportedly as a result of the injuries that he sustained in the crash.

Stewart was treated for minor injuries, but declined further treatment. A passenger in the Corvette, Frank Christopher Sprague, 37, of 5865 Littlestone Court, North Fort Myers, was treated on scene for non-life threatening injuries. He was later taken to Lee Memorial Hospital for additional treatment.

As of Tuesday, Sprague had been discharged from the hospital.

According to the report, Stewart and Johnsen were negotiating a left turn in the roadway when the accident occurred. Stewart was traveling an estimated 100 mph; the posted speed is 45 mph.

Stewart did not return a message on Thursday seeking comment.

Police officials reported that it appears neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor in the crash.

Johnsen was wearing a helmet and had safety lights on at the time.

CCPD Sgt. Dana Coston confirmed Wednesday that the accident is still under investigation.

“Our findings will determine what charges would be appropriate,” he said.

This is the fifth traffic fatality in Cape Coral for the year. In 2013, Cape police recorded 18 traffic fatalities, which does not include three fatalities ruled as medical deaths, officials reported.

According to his obituary released Thursday, Johnsen was a part-time Cape resident for 12 years, before becoming a permanent resident in 2013. He was formerly from Framingham, Mass.

Johnsen was a husband, father and grandfather. As an avid cyclist who rode daily – rain or shine – he was proudest of earning the Super Randonneur badge, certified by Audax Club Parisien, in August.

No formal services were planned for Johnsen as of Thursday.