Man charged in fatal crash
A driver has been charged in a head-on crash that resulted in the death of a Cape Coral woman.
Sergio Eduardo Rodriguez, 25, of 1175 Lake McGregor Drive, Fort Myers, was arrested and charged on Wednesday with homicide negligent manslaughter DUI cause death to human or unborn child.
As of Thursday, he had been released from the Lee County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Rodriguez is charged in the death of one of his passengers, Brittany Leanne Thompson, 23.
According to the Fort Myers police, Rodriguez was driving a Nissan sedan eastbound on McGregor Boulevard on March 19. As he passed Lynwood Avenue at 11:05 p.m., an animal ran in front of his car. Rodriguez told police his front seat passenger grabbed the wheel, making the car swerve to the right.
A report states that Rodriguez overcorrected and the Nissan swerved into the westbound lane of McGregor. While still in the lane, Rodriguez’s car struck a Dodge sedan traveling westbound.
The driver of the Dodge, Angel Perez, 57, of 613 S.E. 23rd St., told officers that he was passing the intersection at Poinciana Avenue when he noticed another vehicle coming at him in the eastbound lane. Perez said the car suddenly swerved into his lane and he tried to avoid a collision, but he could not.
Rodriguez and Thompson were transported to the Lee Memorial Hospital with injuries.
Police reported that Thompson, of 1166 S. Hancock Creek Blvd., Apt. 202, died from her injuries.
A second passenger inside Rodriguez’s vehicle, Andres Jaramillo, 27, of 2401 Jasper Ave., Fort Myers, was also taken to the hospital with injuries. As of Thursday, Jaramillo had been treated and released.
According to the report, Perez was not injured in the accident.
Three passengers inside Perez’s vehicle were transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with non-incapacitating injuries as a result of the crash. As of Thursday, they had been treated and released.
Police suspected alcohol use in the accident and took a blood test from Rodriguez.
It was unknown if drugs were also a factor, according to the report.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez was discharged from the hospital and taken into custody.
He could not be reached for comment regarding the charge and allegations.
Rodriguez has a court appearance scheduled for May 2.