A tragic accident on Burnt Store Road claimed the lives of three individuals, leaving the community in mourning. WINK News first reported the incident as breaking news when it occurred.
Cape Coral police reported that a truck driving south on Burnt Store Road drifted across the center line, colliding with a northbound truck towing a trailer and an SUV following closely behind. The impact caused the SUV to roll off the road, resulting in three fatalities at the scene.
The victims were identified as 48-year-old Laura Lee Beasley, 77-year-old Gary Lee Galiher, and 79-year-old Norma Jean Ralston.
The crash, which occurred Monday night, closed down both northbound and southbound lanes of Burnt Store Road as officers investigated. However, the road reopened early Tuesday morning, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.
Cape Coral police have confirmed that three people died and one sustained minor injuries after a major crash near Sand Road and Burnt Store Road North.
Bryan Greenwell, a witness who lives near the crash site, shared his experience. He was at home Monday night when he heard a loud boom and rushed to the scene. He found cars backed up, with trucks and an SUV involved in the collision.
Greenwell approached the SUV, called out for a response, and when he received none, he used a blade to open the sunroof to find the driver and passenger unresponsive.
“I noticed the wife was reaching over to the husband who was driving, he was holding her hand up by his chest, shoulder area,” said Greenwell. “I can only imagine what that was like for them in the moment, what they were going through. And for them to have that type of connection to think about each other while they were experiencing it from their own perspective, I think it’s something we all want in our lives. We want that compassion and companionship with somebody who thinks about us even when they’re going through just as stressful of a situation as we are.”
Greenwell expressed hope that sharing his account might bring peace to the families of the victims, knowing that their last moments were shared holding onto each other.