Driver hits, kills little girl outside her Fort Myers home

Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A man is accused of driving distracted before striking and killing a 7-year-old girl who was riding her tricycle feet from her home Saturday evening.

Fernando Rea Franco, 27, was driving a Ford van westbound on Jupiter Road around 6:30 p.m. when witnesses said he turned to wave at family members who were outside their yard. In that moment, he hit and killed 7-year-old Alondra Karina Zavala-Garcia, deputies said.

Franco was not under the influence of any drugs, but was cited for having an open container in his vehicle, deputies said. He was arrested, jailed and is facing charges for causing a death while driving without a license, according to deputies.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.