One dead in South Fort Myers crash

Published: Updated:

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – The westbound lanes of Daniels Parkway reopened Thursday night following a fatal crash that left them blocked for more than four hours, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

One person was killed shortly before 3:30 p.m. when a dump truck and a Honda Pilot collided near the intersection with Plantation Road. Troopers said the Honda was stopped in the intersection attempting to make a left turn when the dump truck plowed through the intersection.

Witnesses said the Honda flew through the air and landed on the guardrail while the dump truck overturned and landed on its side.

Marilyn Moll-Ruggeri said it was one of the worst crashes she’s ever seen.

“It just broke my heart,” she said. “I actually brought my daughter over here to show it to her because I wanted her to see what happens to a person. They go to work one day and on their way home, possibly and in the blink of an eye, this is what can happen.”

William Zielinski and his father, both former dump truck drivers, came to the scene when they heard what happened.

“There’s not much you can do,” Zielinski said. “Somebody pulls in front of you, you really can’t stop.”

The drivers of the SUV and the dump truck were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The color of the traffic signal at the time of the crash is still under investigation.

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