close

Teen driver charged in fatal accident

2 min read

Cape Coral police have arrested a teen-age driver involved in a fatal accident last September.

On Sept. 29, 2018, at 12:08 a.m., the Cape Coral Police Department 911 dispatchers received reports of a traffic crash involving a vehicle crashing into a swimming pool located at a single-family residence with an address of 1623 N.W. 25th Land. According to the reporting party, there were four persons trapped in the vehicle described as a black colored 2007 Toyota RAV4, which was submerged in the pool located in the rear of the residence.

According to a report issued Friday by the CCPD, Traffic Homicide Investigator Danny Gray was assigned the case and immediately began his investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, Gray determined that on Sept 29, the black 2007 Toyota RAV4, being driven by Gavin Bryant Clutts, 19, was traveling southwest on Wilmington Parkway at three times the posted speed limit, 135 mph, approaching the intersection with Chiquita Boulevard, N.

Upon reaching the intersection with Chiquita Boulevard, Gray reported, the Toyota RAV4 failed to slow or stop at the stop sign and continued across the intersection, then left the roadway on the southwest corner of the intersection. The Toyota RAV4 continued to the southwest across a vacant field for approximately 350 feet before colliding with the mailbox/post. The Toyota RAV4 then continued on before its front end collided with the left side tires and trailer frame of a 29-foot boat parked on the east side of a residence.

The report indicates there was no evidence found of braking on the roadway or on the ground prior to the impact with the boat.

This impact ramped the Toyota RAV4 into the air, vaulting it through and over the left side of the boat and onto the roof of the home. The Toyota RAV4 then rolled to the right and through the screened lanai frame and landed in the swimming pool upright.

Two passengers issued suffered serious injuries and one passenger suffered fatal injuries.

On March 7, 2019, at approximately 10:46 p.m., the CCPD reported that Clutts of 1717 N.W. Juanita Place, Cape Coral, was taken into custody without incident outside of his residence. He was charged with vehicular homicide, three counts of no driver’s license causing death /serious bodily injuries, two counts of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing property damage.

Clutts was later transferred to Lee County Jail.

Source: Cape Coral Police Department