Cape man among four injured in traffic accident
A Cape Coral man and three others were taken to the hospital Thursday after he failed to brake at a red light and crashed into two vehicles.
Steven Ames, 53, was transported to Physicians Regional Medical Center in serious condition, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
At about 9:25 a.m., Ames was reportedly traveling south on Collier Boulevard in Collier County when he came to a red light at Grand Lely Drive. The brakes on his truck were not functioning properly and his tires were worn, officials said.
Ames also allegedly failed to recognize and react to a Dodge Grand Caravan and a Chevy Malibu stopped ahead of him in the southbound lanes at the red light.
The FHP reported that Ames sounded his horn and straddled the lanes in an attempt to pass between the Dodge and Chevy. The front left corner of the truck struck the Dodge’s rear, while the front right corner hit the Chevy.
Continuing to travel, the truck crossed the intersection and overturned. It spilled a load of sand that it had been hauling, according to the report.
The driver of the Dodge, Eliana Lulsdorf, 52, of Vancouver, Wash., and a passenger, Patricia Primo, 38, of Naples, were transported after the crash. Both were taken to Physicians Regional Medical Center in serious condition.
The Chevy’s driver, Amy Obrien, 39, of Naples, was transported to NCH hospital. She sustained minor injuries in the accident, officials stated.
The FHP cited Ames with careless driving and unsafe equipment.