HERE LOCALLY IN THE COMING DAYS COMING UP IN JUST A BIT. >> I JUST POPPED IN MY TRUCK AND DROVE UP THERE TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE ALRIGHT. >> TONIGHT A CAPE CORAL MAN IS SHARING WHAT HE SAW AFTER A DEADLY CRASH ON BURNT STORE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR COUNTING ON GULF COAST NEWS. I’M CHRISTY SOTO. THE CRASH KILLED 3 PEOPLE LAST NIGHT. POLICE SAY A TRUCK CROSSED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE NEAR SAN ROAD, HITTING ANOTHER TRUCK TONIGHT. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER, BLAINE MONTGOMERY SHARES WHAT THAT MAN SAW AND WHY HE HOPES AND BRINGS THE FAMILY A SENSE OF PEACE. >> TONIGHT, BURNT STORE ROAD IS BACK OPEN HERE OF SAN ROAD. BUT HEARTBREAK STILL LINGERS FOR 3 LIVES, LOST ONE MAN LIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHO RUSHED OVER TO HELP SAYS HE’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT HE SAW. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY HIT THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE WITH A CAR SO. >> ALL RIGHT. QUICKLY WENT OUTSIDE, REALIZED IT WASN’T ANYTHING IN MY YARD. THEN THAT’S WHEN I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO NOISE OF TRAFFIC COMING FROM BURNT STORE AT A SILENCE. BRIAN GREENWELL SAYS IS UNUSUAL FOR THIS BUSY TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. >> THE SOUND OF THE IMPACT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. I JUST POPPED IN MY TRUCK AND DROVE UP THERE MAKE SURE BECAUSE ALRIGHT GREENWELL SAYS HE SAW 3 WRECKED VEHICLES OF JANICE ROAD. SO HE RAN OVER AND CHECKED ON THE PEOPLE INSIDE AND SHIELD TO SMASH THE THE ROOF WAS SMASHED A LITTLE BIT THE AIRBAGS WORLD DEPLOYED. SO I I COULDN’T SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. GREENWELL SAYS WHAT HE SAW NEXT WAS HEARTBREAKING. CUT OPEN THE SUN SHADE. >> HUSBAND, A WIFE IN THE FRONT SEAT? THE VEHICLE BEING ALMOST ON ITS SIDE. THE WIFE WAS. LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS REACHING OVER TO THE HUSBAND. THE HUSBAND HAD HIS RIGHT HAND UP. HOLDING HER AND A COUPLE STILL HOLDING EACH OTHER IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS OF HOW CHAOTIC EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THAT WAS LIKE A. A SYMBOL OF PEACE IN A WAY. I THINK BECAUSE WE ALL HOPE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SOMEDAY CAPE CORAL POLICE SAY THAT COUPLE WAS NORMA JEAN RALSTON IN GARY GALLAGHER. ANYONE WAS GOING TO PASS AWAY. YOU WOULD WANT TO BE WITH. A PERFECT PERSON THAT YOU LOVE THE MOST. 48 YEAR-OLD LAURA BEASLEY ALSO DIED IN THE CRASH. HER FAMILY SAYS SHE WAS A LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OF 3 GREENWELL SAYS TONIGHT. HIS TH
Cape Coral Man finds couple holding hands after fatal Burnt Store Road crash
Updated: 6:31 AM EDT Oct 22, 2025
Burnt Store Road has reopened after a deadly crash claimed three lives near Sand Road — but for one Cape Coral resident who rushed to help, the emotional impact is lasting.Bryan Greenwell, who lives nearby, heard what he thought was a car hitting his house late Monday night. Stepping outside, he noticed an unusual silence on the typically busy two-lane road. That’s when he knew something was wrong.Driving toward the quiet, Greenwell found a horrific crash involving three vehicles near Janis Road. He ran to check on the victims — and what he saw will stay with him forever.Inside one car, a husband and wife sat motionless. The vehicle was nearly on its side. Greenwell says the woman appeared to be reaching for her husband, and he was holding her hand — a final embrace in their last moments.Cape Coral Police identified the couple as Norma Jean Ralston and Gary Galiher. Also killed in the crash was 48-year-old Laura Beasley, a wife, mother, and grandmother.Greenwell says the tragedy left him shaken, but that moment of connection between the couple — even in death — offered a small sense of peace.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. —
Burnt Store Road has reopened after a deadly crash claimed three lives near Sand Road — but for one Cape Coral resident who rushed to help, the emotional impact is lasting.
Bryan Greenwell, who lives nearby, heard what he thought was a car hitting his house late Monday night. Stepping outside, he noticed an unusual silence on the typically busy two-lane road. That’s when he knew something was wrong.
Driving toward the quiet, Greenwell found a horrific crash involving three vehicles near Janis Road. He ran to check on the victims — and what he saw will stay with him forever.
Inside one car, a husband and wife sat motionless. The vehicle was nearly on its side. Greenwell says the woman appeared to be reaching for her husband, and he was holding her hand — a final embrace in their last moments.
Cape Coral Police identified the couple as Norma Jean Ralston and Gary Galiher. Also killed in the crash was 48-year-old Laura Beasley, a wife, mother, and grandmother.
Greenwell says the tragedy left him shaken, but that moment of connection between the couple — even in death — offered a small sense of peace.
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.