Tragic Crash in Cape Coral Claims Lives of 12-Year-Old and Parent

Tragic Crash in Cape Coral Claims Lives of 12-Year-Old and Parent

CAPE CORAL, FL — A devastating car crash on Monday afternoon near Veterans Memorial Parkway, between Surfside Boulevard and Pine Island Road, has claimed the lives of a 12-year-old child and their parent, shaking the Cape Coral community and sparking renewed concerns over road safety in the area.

Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after the two-vehicle collision, working urgently to rescue both victims from a submerged vehicle. The road remained shut down for several hours as first responders tended to the victims and investigators began examining the crash site.

The 12-year-old, a student at Gulf Coast Middle School, was initially pulled from the vehicle with critical injuries and later succumbed to those injuries on Tuesday evening. The adult driver, who was also critically injured, passed away from their injuries on Wednesday morning, according to officials from the Cape Coral Police Department (CCPD).

While the names of the victims have not yet been released, CCPD confirmed that the deceased were a parent and child.

In an emotional statement released Tuesday evening, CCPD said:

“We are deeply saddened to report that the child injured in the traffic crash has succumbed to their injuries. Our thoughts are with the child’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Drone footage captured by WINK News showed investigators examining a nearby pond, where the vehicle ended up after veering off the road following the collision. Tire marks along the shoulder of the road remain, serving as a haunting reminder of the tragedy.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but officials have ruled out inclement weather as a contributing factor. Residents familiar with the area have expressed serious concerns about road design and safety.

Derek Hewson, a local resident, commented on the layout of Veterans Memorial Parkway:

“One of the things about this area is that’s actually the only street that has any real curves on it. Everything else in Cape Coral is kind of built on a grid. So that’s the one patch where you have high speed and you have turns combined. It doesn’t surprise me that it happened. I’m surprised it hadn’t happened earlier.”

Community members have also pointed to the lack of guardrails in the area as a major safety oversight that may have contributed to the severity of the incident. Calls for road improvements are growing louder in the wake of this tragic event.

The Cape Coral Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances of the crash. More information will be released as it becomes available, including the identities of the victims.

In the meantime, the Cape Coral community is rallying in grief, remembering a young student and devoted parent whose lives were taken far too soon. Memorials are expected in the coming days as family, friends, and classmates mourn the heartbreaking loss.