A 63-year-old Fort Myers woman was killed when her motorcycle collided with a car in Charlotte County on Dec. 6. The crash happened just after 1:30 p.m. in Punta Gorda.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, a 27-year-old man was driving a 1995 Toyota Corolla south on Burnt Store Road when he attempted to turn left on Cape Horn Boulevard. He did not see an oncoming motorcycle in the northbound lane and turned into the bike’s path. The motorcyclist swerved to avoid the collision, but lost control of her vehicle and slid partially under the Toyota. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Burnt Store Road was closed for approximately three hours as investigators studied the crash scene and crews cleared the wreckage. The driver of the Toyota was given a citation for failure to yield to oncoming traffic. Police said no criminal charges would be filed.
Drivers are expected to follow all traffic laws as well as be aware of their surroundings at all times in order to avoid car and motorcycle accidents. When a fatal motor vehicle crash is caused by a negligent driver, the decedent’s family may seek compensation by suing that driver in civil court. A wrongful death lawsuit can be filed even in cases where no criminal charges have been pressed against the at-fault motorist. An attorney could use police reports, crash scene evidence and witness testimony to establish a driver’s negligence in a fatal crash, which could lead to a financial settlement.
Source: News-Press.com, “Fort Myers woman dies in Port Charlotte crash,” Michael Braun, Dec. 8, 2014
Source: WZVN, “Fatal crash on Burnt Store Rd. in Punta Gorda“, December 06, 2014
