60-year-old man killed in south Fort Myers crash

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One person was killed in a crash on Michael G Rippe Parkway near Briarcliff Road in south Fort Myers Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Credit: WINK News.

Florida Highway Patrol responded to a deadly crash on Michael G Rippe Parkway in south Fort Myers Tuesday.

According to FHP, state troopers were at the scene on Michael G Rippe Pkwy at the intersection with Briarcliff Road, where a 60-year-old man of Fort Myers was killed in a two-vehicle crash.

He was driving in a van northbound in the left turn lane of Michael G Rippe Pkwy intending to turn left onto Briarcliff Rd. A 24-year-old driver in a sedan was southbound on Michael G Rippe Pkwy heading toward the intersection with Briarcliff Rd.

The 60-year-old in the van went left into the intersection on a solid green light, and the front of the southbound sedan hit the right side of the van.

The van rolled over, and the 60-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 24-year-old of Altamonte Springs was listed as having serious injuries in the crash and was taken to the hospital.

It’s painful for Debbie McRae to see yet another deadly crash at this intersection, especially after escaping a crash herself in the exact spot a few years ago.

“I am so, so, so sad,” McRae said. “Can’t describe it. It just brings everything back. It’s terrifying.”

“It’s horrible,” Heather Barkis said. “I have family that lives back here, and when I heard about it, I called to make sure that everybody was OK, and unfortunately, that is somebody’s family sitting over there though.”

Neighbors say they thought this intersection would get less dangerous when the light was added, but Barkis says the crashes continue leaving more families to grieve.

“I just think of, I have a 14-year-old at home, and in two years, he’s going to be driving,” Barkis said.

Barkis wonders if anything more will be done to make the intersection safer.

“There have been some fatal ones,” Barkis said. “One is too many I think.”

We reached out to Lee County and Florida Department of Transportation about whether or not there are any plans to address the intersection and the crashes that happen there. We are still waiting for responses.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County EMS and South Trail Fire Protection and Rescue Service District also responded to the crash.

The roadway has been cleared, and the crash remains under investigation.

Credit: Maxar Technologies.

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