CAPE CORAL, Fla. — On Sunday, September 28, 2025, just before 9 PM, officers with the Cape Coral Police Department responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at Tower Drive and Santa Rosa Court, Cape Coral, Florida.

Officers arrived and found a pedestrian who did not appear to be breathing but had a faint pulse. The pedestrian required immediate medical treatment and was transported to Gulf Coast Hospital as a Trauma Alert. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased upon arrival at 9:26 PM.

Traffic Homicide Investigators (THIs) were called to the scene, and determined the vehicle was driving on Tower Drive approaching Santa Rosa Court and struck a pedestrian who was walking her dog west on Tower Drive in the eastbound lane. The vehicle involved, a white Dodge work van, was still on scene. A THI observed an open Bud Light aluminum bottle in the center cup holder through the open driver’s door.

A witness with the victim at the time said they were walking with a flashlight. That witness identified the vehicle that struck the victim and pointed out the driver. The witness said she could smell alcohol on the driver’s breath.

The driver was identified as Rodrigo Coutinho Pereira (DOB 10/21/1997). The THIs could smell alcohol on his breath and noticed he had slurred speech.

Officers then informed Pereira that they were changing hats from a crash investigation to a DUI investigation. Pereira agreed to participate in Standard Field Sobriety Evaluations. Based on the investigation, Pereira was placed under arrest for DUI at 10:54 PM. Pereira refused to provide a breath sample.

The investigation also determined Pereira’s license was suspended for DUI effective May 4, 2025. Therefore, he is not authorized to operate a vehicle. Pereira caused an estimated $1500 in damage to the van he was in, which he does not own. 

Rodrigo Coutinho Pereira (DOB 10/21/1997) was taken to the Lee County Jail on the following charges:
-1 count of DUI 
-1 count of DUI Property Damage 
-1 count of  DUI Manslaughter
-1 count of Driving While License Suspended (Causing Death or Serious Injury)

This is the 14th traffic fatality in 2025. Three have been DUI-related.

Prior years:
2024: 23 Traffic fatalities, 7 DUI-related 
2023: 20 Traffic fatalities, 4 DUI-related 
2022: 13 Traffic fatalities, 3 DUI-related 
2021: 12 Traffic fatalities, 5 DUI-related