LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) warns you not to drink and drive ahead of this Fourth of July after they responded to a deadly crash Sunday in Lehigh Acres.
“Now we have a tragedy,” FHP Lieutenant Greg Bueno said.
A bicyclist is dead in Lehigh after FHP said Zenaido Martinez Gomez hit them on Sunday.
“The driver of the Jeep initially stopped, exited his vehicle, surveyed the scene, and then left,” Bueno said.
A woman we spoke with across the street from the scene said she saw the accident happen. She called 911 right away before trying to go help.
She saw the driver turn onto Douglas Lane and hit the person on the bike before speeding off.
At the accident scene, a mailbox was still down, and you could see orange FHP markings on the street.
“Was transported to a nearby hospital and later was pronounced deceased,” Bueno said.
The worst part of it all, Bueno said this tragedy was preventable. That is because FHP discovered Gomez was driving under the influence.
“The message here is, go out and celebrate with your family. We definitely want you to do that. Just do so responsibly,” he said.
The Fourth of July is one of the deadliest days for drunk drivers. That is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This is why Bueno wants you to make a safe plan now if you will be drinking alcohol.
“If you start drinking and then think you are going to make a good choice after that, you are kidding yourself,” he said.
Nathan Matis lives in Lehigh Acres and said a person’s life is everything. That’s why he is planning to use a ride-share app.
“It’s not worth risking a person’s life for,” Matis said.
It’s not worth risking your life or someone else’s like Gomez did at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
FHP made the arrest just hours after the deadly crash.
“And he is facing some very serious, life-changing charges felonies not only for leaving the scene of death but for DUI manslaughter,” he said.
If you see someone impaired driving on this Fourth of July, call 911 or FHP.