Authorities have responded to a serious crash in Lehigh Acres, according to local sources. Florida Highway Patrol has confirmed that three people were injured, one critically, in the head-on collision. Charges are apparently pending, but as with most car accidents, this incident remains under investigation at the current time.
According to the report, it appears a 52-year-old man was traveling west on State Road 82 when he tried to pass other traffic in a designated no-passing zone. He reportedly drove west in the eastbound lanes for some time while trying to pass other vehicles. This led him to strike an eastbound vehicle driven by an 18-year-old woman head-on.
The woman and her passenger, a 26-year-old, both suffered injuries described by medical personnel as serious. The 52-year-old’s vehicle rotated across the highway, striking a third vehicle driven by a 53-year-old woman who was fortunately uninjured. The older man was critically injured and was also rushed to a local hospital. Police say the man will likely be charged, but they have not spoken publicly about the nature of those charges at this time.
Car accidents causing injury do not always lead to criminal charges, but this does not mean victims of such accidents are always without legal recourse. Florida law allows the injured parties to file personal injury suits against any driver believed to be materially responsible for the crash. These suits can be supported by police evidence even if no formal charges were filed and are handled in a civil court setting.