Lee County's 2021 started, ended with child traffic deaths; road fatalities in triple-digits

Editor's note: The death toll on Lee County roadways was raised to 118 as of Jan. 20, after this story was published, making it one of the deadliest years since 2006. Yearly totals can be raised, or lowered, due to reports that are filed after the end of the year.

Lee County ended 2021 as tragically as it started — with the death of a child in a traffic crash.

Those deaths, and dozens more in the intervening months, pushed fatalities to 112 on Lee County's roads and made 2021 one of the deadliest years since 2017.

There have been more than 100 fatalities a year in about half the years since 2000, state-collected statistics show.

The highest death toll came in 2005 when 150 people died on Lee County roads. Two years, 2003 and 2006, tied with 121 deaths, and two years, 2001 and 2017, tied with 113 deaths.

The fewest number of traffic deaths came in 2012 when 64 people died on Lee County roads.

Collier County reported one of the lowest traffic fatality totals in the past few years with 31 road deaths in 2021. That county reported 42 deaths in 2020, 52 in 2019 and 44 in 2018, according to state-collected statistics.

The 2021 statistics are preliminary and could rise, or drop, depending on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' final report in the next month or so. Changes can come via people who die days, weeks or months after a crash and don't get reported immediately or a death that may have been caused prior to the crash due to a health problem.

Among those 112 fatal crashes in Lee, preliminary state statistics showed 21 involved pedestrians, 20 involved a motorcycle, 10 were hit-and -run crashes and six involved a bicyclist.

Location can be a factor in crashes as well. The majority of Lee County's fatal crashes, nine, took place on various spots along the U.S. 41/Cleveland Avenue corridor.

Other hot spots included four fatal crashes on Corkscrew Road, McGregor Boulevard, and Daniels Parkway; three such crashes on Winkler Avenue and two on a number of roads including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Palm Beach Boulevard, Interstate 75, Joel Boulevard and Alico Road.

Second road fatality of 2022: Lehigh Acres man causes 3-car crash after fatal medical episode

The crashing hours: When are Lee County roads at their most dangerous?

Why Lee County's traffic environment is downright dangerous

Those familiar with Southwest Florida roadways pointed to increased population, less-than-adequate traffic policies and drivers not adhering to the rules of the road for the level of carnage.

Dan Moser, with the Bike/Walk Lee organization, was at a loss to explain the high numbers.

"Wish I had a few words of wisdom and some kind of explanation as to why Lee County has such a consistently dismal traffic crash/injury/fatality record, but it's just more of the same again in 2021," he said. "Perhaps even worse, at least in terms of driver behavior."

Moser said the bottom line is that Lee County's traffic environment can only be described as downright dangerous, especially for those on foot and bicycle, thanks to what he said are irresponsible, self-centered, and inconsiderate drivers.

"What's so sad is they know who they are but choose to continue their behaviors," he said.

The first traffic fatality in 2021 came on Jan. 2 when a 11-year-old Indiana boy died of injuries from a Jan. 1 crash.

The year concluded in the same tragic fashion with the death of an 8-year-old Nashville, Tenn., girl from injuries she received in a crash New Year's Eve.

Compounding that tragedy was the death another girl, a 9-year-old San Carlos Park child, who died in a crash in her Phlox Road driveway on Dec. 30.

The Indiana boy who died a day after he received injuries in a New Year's Day 2021 crash was a passenger in an SUV with a 44-year-old male driver, a 34-year-old woman and another boy, 9, on Daniels Parkway approaching Appaloosa Lane.

The Tennessee girl died Dec. 31 after the sports utility vehicle she was a passenger in was rear-ended on southbound I-75 north of the Corkscrew Road exit as traffic had stopped for congestion and in heavy fog.

The SUV's 27-year-old female driver and a 29-year-old male passenger were hospitalized in serious condition and a 5-year-old girl passenger was listed in critical condition. All the SUV occupants were from Nashville.

Related: I-75 crash leaves 8-year-old child dead, others seriously injured, including 5-year-old

Traffic fatalities in time of COVID-19: More than 100 died on Lee County roads in 2020

Also in 2020: Pedestrian deaths up across U.S. in 2020 despite less driving during pandemic; SWFL numbers flat

Government action needed

Diana Giraldo, president and co-founder of Streets Alive of SWFL pointed to a lack of awareness and empathy from many sides combined with system issues, policies and laws as a contributing factor for the area's fatality levels.

"(It) will continue to be an issue that will not have a fix just by providing community outreach," she said. "In addition, we are dealing with a large influx of people moving to the area, completely unaware of the laws, as well as micro-mobility without policy."

She said what is needed are policies that have teeth.

"Rethinking the way the area develops and redevelops, empathy, combining outreach and education, caring for one another, getting real about what is real change from all sides will have to be part of the change we need," Giraldo said. "Government officials, motor vehicle drivers, cyclists, pedestrians … overall all of us need to have a deep look into what is our role."

She said anyone on or about area roads, whether it is to drive, walk or bike, have this responsibility.

"This is about equity and building the future we want for our community," she said. "We will chose to live in community and reflecting that with our actions or continue this involution as it relates to road safety for all… as I travel to explore other cultures, it is sad to see us stuck in an issue we can all resolve…together. Our individual choices can change this entire community “

Florida Highway Patrol urges driver awareness and responsibility

Florida law enforcement continually implore drivers to be more careful. Specifically, throughout the year the Florida Highway Patrol runs special driver alert programs and traffic awareness details to try to help lessen road incidents.

Lt. Gregory S. Bueno of the FHP's Public Affairs Division at Troop F in Fort Myers stressed the need for more safety in Florida, which has 22 million residents and millions more visitors annually, no matter the season.

"As a motorist, it’s your responsibility to know and obey the speed limit on each road traveled and obey all traffic laws," he said. "It is your responsibility to have the discipline to be attentive, and keep your phone down. It is your responsibility to have patience behind the wheel, use your turn signal, look before backing and being well rested before you drive. It is your responsibility to wear your seatbelt, check your tires routinely, drive sober, and stay alert to pedestrians and bicyclists."

Bueno, who is regularly called out to the scene of fatal crashes, pointed to family tragedies such as the Dec. 30 and 31 fatality involving the young girls.

"The hardest part of any trooper's day is notifying a family that their loved one isn’t coming home ... it's heartbreaking," he said.

He urged drivers to help make a difference.

"Make a difference within your family and community by being an advocate for safe driving," Bueno urged. "You can help by leading by example and periodically checking your own driving habits to ensure you haven’t develop any bad ones and you can talk about the importance of safe driving at your dinner table, with friends and family."

'Most drivers treat the laws like suggestions'

That tragic aspect also colored what John "Jay" F. Anderson, executive director of Stay Alive....Just Drive! Inc., had to say:

"One-hundred-and-twelve people who will never celebrate another birthday, holiday or special occasion is not acceptable. As a driving instructor I spend a phenomenal amount of time in the passenger seat observing driving behaviors. Speeding, distracted driving, red light running, following to closely, changing lanes in the intersection, aggressive driving and illegal U-turns are just a handful of the violations," he said.

Based on those observations Anderson said the number one issue is failure to follow the rules combined with the lack of proactive enforcement of traffic laws.

"Let's face the fact that most drivers treat the laws like suggestions and drive knowing that the chances of being stopped by law enforcement are slim to none," he said. "The community at large would be surprised how much time, effort, energy and money is allocated to solving murders versus preventing motor vehicle crashes and the incapacitating injuries and fatalities they produce. Just something to ponder, as the carnage on our roads continues."

Lee County traffic fatalities

• 2021: 118

• 2020: 107

• 2019: 98

• 2018: 94

• 2017: 113

• 2016: 105

• 2015: 95

• 2014: 81

• 2013: 92

• 2012: 64

• 2011: 75

• 2010: 65

• 2009: 80

• 2008: 77

• 2007: 106

• 2006: 121

• 2005: 150

• 2004: 108

• 2003: 121

• 2002: 71

• 2001: 113

• 2000: 103

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee County started, ended 2021 with a child killed in a traffic crash