Speed Suspected in Single Car Fort Myers, Florida Bridge Crash That Killed Driver
News media in Fort Myers, Fla. report that a horrific single-car crash occurred during rush hour Tuesday, claiming the life of the driver.
According to media reports, the driver of a silver Ford Mustang spun out of control near the Edison Bridge in Ft. Myers, Florida. The single car crash took place shortly before 9 a.m. in the Northbound lanes. The vehicle reportedly struck some palm trees along the side of the bridge roadway, splitting the car in half. An off-duty Lee County, Florida EMT attempted to assist the driver, however news media later reported that the car accident victim died of his injuries.
Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate this fatal auto accident in Fort Myers, Florida.
An experienced Fort Myers car accident injury lawyer knows that speeding on Florida highways and roadways can kill. Police investigating this traffic accident believe that speed may have been a factor in the driver losing control of the vehicle. The Edison Bridge was reportedly shut down for hours while Florida Highway Patrol investigated this fatal car accident.
Speed Related Traffic Accident Statistics for Florida
The U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a report titled Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2005-2009 (see link below). The report states that of the 2,558 traffic accident deaths in Florida in 2009 -- 535 were speeding related fatalities.
These numbers show an overall decline in motor vehicle accident fatalities in Florida over the last few years: down from 3,518 in 2005 to 2,558 in 2009. Speeding-related car accident deaths also declined from a five-year high of 712 deaths in 2006, to the 535 deaths reported for 2009.
However as Ft Myers auto accident injury attorneys will tell you, even one death on our Florida roads, highways, and bridges is one too many. That death is more than a statistic when it's someone you care about.
Research has also shown that drinking and driving, combined with speed, is a deadly combination. Of the 2,558 auto accident deaths in Florida in 2009, 770 deaths involved drunk driving (i.e., alcohol impaired driving over the legal BAC limit of .08). In addition, 1,546 motor vehicle fatalities in Fla. that same year were single-vehicle crashes.
The state speed limit for highways in Florida is 55 to 60 on two-lane roads and 70 on freeways. Some states, such as New England states, have lower highway speed limits (65 mph), while some Mid-Western states such as Montana, Nebraska, and Nevada have higher highway speed limits (75 mph). It's worth noting that driving too slow can also be very dangerous and lead to serious traffic accidents in Fla.
As we've written about previously, some Florida cities are ranked among the most dangerous to drive in in the country, including Fort Lauderdale (see link to related article below). As always, your best bet is to drive defensively in Florida and within the posted speed limits.
Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney Article:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida Named Most Dangerous City to Drive In : Fatal Car Accidents Happen More Often Here (Aug. 11, 2001)
Sources:
Driver killed in Edison Bridge crash
WINK News Aug. 24, 2011
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2005 - 2009
Related Web Resource:
Florida Statutes 2011: Speeding
Online Sunshine: Official Site of the Florida Legislature
