IN OUR UPCOMING RAIN CHANCE COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. >> NEW AT 5, THE SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER WHO POLICE SAY KILLED A WOMAN IN CAPE CORAL LAST WEEKEND ADMITTED THAT HE HAD BEEN DRINKING AND SMOKING MARIJUANA. THAT’S ACCORDING TO POLICE. OFFICERS SAY 22 YEAR-OLD TYLER JANSEN CRASHED INTO THE WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND FLIPPING THEIR TRUCK. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER COLIN SCHMITT IS IN CAPE CORAL WITH NEW INFORMATION ON THIS DEADLY CRASH. >> POLICE SAY A COUPLE WAS BACKING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY ONTO BEACH PARKWAY WHEN SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER HIT THEIR PICKUP TRUCK CAUSING IT TO ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. I FIGURED HE WOULD BE SCARED. ONE OVERSEE IF SOMEBODY WAS OK AFTER HIM. >> THEY JUST STOOD THERE. CHERYL SWICK SAID TYLER JANSEN SHOWED NO REMORSE FOR KILLING HER FRIEND DEBI STUART, SOME AND SERIOUSLY INJURING THE DEPUTY’S HUSBAND. CHUCK JANSEN WAS 6 DAYS INTO PROBATION FROM AN AUGUST DUI ARREST. A JUDGE TOLD HIM HE COULDN’T DRINK FOR 6 MONTHS HE WAS NEARLY TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT. POLICE SAY HE ADMITTED TO DRINKING SMOKING MARIJUANA AFTER A NIGHT OUT ON THE BEACH. HE HAD A CHANCE TO CLEAN HIMSELF UP. >> DO THE RIGHT THING. AND HE CHOSE HE MADE THE CHOICE. WASN’T AN ACCIDENT. HE MADE THE CHOICE TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. AND NOW THIS FAMILY IS SUFFERING IN AN UNSPEAKABLE. >> LAST REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING THAT LARRY COGGINS SAID ADVOCATES FOR STRONGER SANCTIONS AGAINST OFFENDERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND DEMANDS THAT THE COURT HOLD EVERY PERSON CONVICTED ON IMPAIRED DRIVING OFFENSE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. HE DIDN’T KILL OUR FRIEND. HE WAS GOING JUST SOMEBODY ELSE GOING THAT FAST ON THIS ROAD. POLICE SAY JANSEN ALSO HAD A CHILD IN HI
Suspected drunk driver with child passenger facing charges after Cape Coral crash kills woman
Updated: 6:51 PM EST Feb 24, 2026
Police say a couple was backing out of their driveway onto Beach Parkway in Cape Coral when a suspected drunk driver with a child passenger hit their pickup truck, causing it to roll over several times. Cheryl Swick, a Cape Coral resident, said, “I figured he would be scared, run over, see if someone was OK after he hit them, he just stood there.” Swick said Tyler Janson showed no remorse for killing her friend Debbie Stortzum and seriously injuring Debbie’s husband, Chuck.Janson was six days into probation from an August DUI arrest, during which a judge prohibited him from drinking for six months. On Sunday, he was nearly twice the legal limit. Police say he admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana after a night out on the beach.Trish Routte, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) board member, said, “He had a chance to clean himself up and do the right thing, and he chose; it was a choice, it wasn’t an accident; he made the choice to get behind the wheel, and now this family is suffering an unspeakable loss.”Larry Coggins, regional executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said, “MADD advocates for stronger sanctions against offenders throughout the nation and demands that the courts hold every person convicted on an impaired driving offense accountable for their actions.”Swick added, “If he didn’t kill our friend, he would have killed somebody else going that fast on this road.” DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Police say a couple was backing out of their driveway onto Beach Parkway in Cape Coral when a suspected drunk driver with a child passenger hit their pickup truck, causing it to roll over several times.
Cheryl Swick, a Cape Coral resident, said, “I figured he would be scared, run over, see if someone was OK after he hit them, he just stood there.” Swick said Tyler Janson showed no remorse for killing her friend Debbie Stortzum and seriously injuring Debbie’s husband, Chuck.
Janson was six days into probation from an August DUI arrest, during which a judge prohibited him from drinking for six months. On Sunday, he was nearly twice the legal limit. Police say he admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana after a night out on the beach.
Trish Routte, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) board member, said, “He had a chance to clean himself up and do the right thing, and he chose; it was a choice, it wasn’t an accident; he made the choice to get behind the wheel, and now this family is suffering an unspeakable loss.”
Larry Coggins, regional executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said, “MADD advocates for stronger sanctions against offenders throughout the nation and demands that the courts hold every person convicted on an impaired driving offense accountable for their actions.”
Swick added, “If he didn’t kill our friend, he would have killed somebody else going that fast on this road.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.