A tragic crash on Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral claimed the lives of three people on Monday night. The collision occurred at the intersection of Janis and Sand roads, leaving residents deeply concerned about the safety of this stretch of road.

“It’s a scary road because of all that we have seen,” said Rolando Alavarez, who lives off Burnt Store Road. 

Rusty Pannebakker, another resident, explained the constant worry, “You’re always waiting to hear the sirens because we’re right next to the fire station here, so as soon as you hear them, you go, ‘Oh no, is it another accident?’ You know? Another family losing someone.'”

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, at around 8:25 p.m. on Monday, a southbound truck drifted into the northbound lane, colliding with a car pulling a trailer. The impact caused the northbound truck to spin off the roadway. An SUV following the trailer was also struck, rolling over and coming to rest facing the opposite direction.

On Tuesday morning, Cape Coral Police confirmed the names of the three victims: Laura Lee Beasley, 49, Gary Lee Galiher, 77, and Norma Jean Ralston, 79.

Gladys Arreyes, who has lived off Burnt Store Road for 13 years, expressed her sorrow, “I feel very sad. I feel very sad for their families, for the people that should be waiting for them to get back home, and they won’t just because of a bad accident.”

Residents shared their own harrowing experiences on this road. 

Pannebakker recounted a close call, “There was a guy in a white truck that came up behind me and just rode on me trying to pass, pass, pass. We weren’t in a passing zone, and I was driving at the speed limit, plus a few miles, when he became too impatient. He swerved around me, and other traffic was approaching. I thought he was for sure going to have a head-on with the other direction, but fortunately, he made it, and I got home safely.”

Arreyes also recalled her own terrifying incident, which sent her to the hospital as she was trying to turn from Burnt Store Road onto Caloosa Parkway.

“I was waiting for my turn because traffic was coming on the other side, and with my lights, you know, to turn,” said Arreyes. “Everything was fine, and suddenly somebody rear-ended me at like 65 miles per hour, and I ended up in a huge crash on the side of the road, many feet off the road.”

Many in the community are calling for changes to improve safety. 

Alavarez suggested, “I would make it like the rest of Burnt Store Road, you know, two lanes on one side, two lanes going the other way.”

Arreyes added, “They could make the arrows to, you know, get off the main road when you have to turn.”

Pannebakker proposed, “Probably a light wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

However, Pannebakker emphasized the importance of driver awareness, “Whether you have eight lanes or two lanes, it’s just that people have to start paying more attention. Be a thoughtful driver. Is it that important to get ahead of someone?”

Plans are in place to expand a nearly six-mile stretch of Burnt Store Road from Van Buren Parkway to Charlotte County from two to four lanes. According to the Florida Department of Transportation’s website, the project is still in the developmental phase.