Man on scooter injured in crash
A Cape Coral man was hospitalized Tuesday after he was thrown from a scooter on U.S. 41.
Paul Vieira, 46, was listed in good condition on Wednesday at Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was transported following the accident near US 41 and North Key Drive, according to officials.
At 3:20 p.m., a Ford Windstar, a Roketa scooter and a Toyota Sienna were headed northbound on U.S. 41 in the outside lane, approaching the intersection at North Key. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the Windstar came to stop due to a Lee County Transit bus that had stopped for a posted bus stop.
Operating the scooter, Vieira came to a stop behind the Windstar in the outside lane.
The driver of the Sienna, Paul Fredzy St. Julien, 39, also of the Cape, failed to come to a stop behind the scooter, according to the FHP. Julien attempted to avoid an impact by steering to the right.
The left front of the Sienna struck the rear tire of the scooter before running along its side. Due to the impact, the scooter overturned on its side. The scooter then traveled forward, hitting the Windstar.
The FHP reported that Vieira was ejected from the scooter as a result of the collision.
The scooter caught on fire and was moved from its final resting spot.
Vieira sustained serious injuries in the accident. He was not wearing a helmet at the time.
Julien did not sustain any injuries in the crash, according to the FHP.
The driver of the Windstar, Robert Carbonneau, 67, and a passenger, Daniel Quarles, 65, both of Fort Myers, were also reportedly uninjured in the accident and did not require medical treatment.
The FHP reported that Julien was cited for careless driving.