Fatal Ft. Myers Accident May Lead to Safety Changes

In an effort to proactively avoid accidents after the death of a man on Old Olga Road last week, Fort Myers residents are asking for more safety features to be incorporated into a local roadway, according to NBC Channel 2 News.

A 27-year-old man died at Lee Memorial Hospital after being run over last Monday around 1:50 a.m. on Old Olga Road, between Caribbean Boulevard and Cristobal Street, by what authorities believe was a red car which left the scene of the crash. The man had been laying in the roadway after another crash in which he hit both mailboxes and cars.

Old Olga Road, described as pitch black at night with no sidewalks, has become a popular detour route for drivers avoiding traffic or accidents on Palm Beach Boulevard. These drivers frequently ignore the posted 35 MPH speed limit, according to local residents. The road is not up to the standards for safety features for the shortcut-seeking traffic using the roadway, but residents along the street say it’s time to add streetlights, sidewalks, and other features. They’ve reached out to county government officials to ask them to make safety changes soon to protect kids waiting for the bus or playing outside as well as anyone else along the street.