Teen bicyclist involved in accident dies
A teen bicyclist has died from injuries that he sustained when he collided into a vehicle Friday.
Justin Dean Esposito, 17, of 1070 Laurel Drive, North Fort Myers, died at approximately 2:40 p.m. Sunday at Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was taken following the accident in Cape Coral.
Officials reported that an autopsy revealed the cause death was due to blunt force trauma.
At about 5:59 a.m., a Nissan Altima was traveling north in the outside lane of Southeast 24th Avenue in the 300 block. At the same time, Esposito attempted to cross east to west along 24th Avenue on a BMX-style bicycle. Police said he used the grassy medium, not a designated cross walk area.
As Esposito crossed the northbound lanes, he reportedly violated the Nissan’s right of way.
The front of the Nissan struck the side of the bicycle. As a result of the collision, the bicycle and Esposito slid northbound along 24th Avenue before coming to a final rest, police reported.
Esposito was trauma-alerted in critical condition to the hospital, where he later died.
According to officials, he was wearing dark clothing and no helmet at the time of the accident.
The driver of the Nissan, Juan Ramiro Martins, 33, of 517 S.E. 23rd Place, was not injured.
It appeared that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, police reported.
“There are 17 traffic fatalities in our city in 2013,” Sgt. Dana Coston said in a statement Monday.
“There are three fatalities that are ruled ‘medical’ and the cause of death is not related to injuries in the traffic crash,” he added. “These three ‘medical’ fatalities are not included in the number of 17.”