3-car crash closes Sanibel Causeway, one driver arrested
Sanibel Causeway was closed for a period of time Monday night after a black sedan traveling at a high rate of speed in the westbound lane hit two oncoming vehicles scattering debris all over the roadway.
The driver of the 1995 black Mercury sedan, Edwin Jontae Wells, 21, of Alva, was transported to Lee HealthPark where he was later arrested. He was booked into the Lee County Jail and is facing five counts of reckless driving.
Two witnesses told the investigating Lee County Sheriff’s Deputy that the westbound black Mercury passed them at a high rate of speed with no headlights and flew through a closed causeway toll booth lane scattering traffic cones. The witnesses in two separate vehicles stopped at the crash scene to render aid at about 10 p.m.
Occupants of two other vehicles traveling eastbound approached the crash scene and also stopped to render aid. Wells was seen exiting his vehicle through the driver’s door window and walked to the side of the bridge and dropped a plastic bag into the water.
Deputy Jim Beckos and Deputy Raymond Gallagher responded to the 911 calls along with Lee County EMS, Sanibel Fire & Rescue. Sanibel Police also provided traffic control until the county officers arrived.
Wells’ westbound vehicle collided with a green Ford Ranger operated by Jose Inocentes Diaz-Garcia and a silver Lexus driven by James Moore, both eastbound.
The accident report states Wells was combative with EMS personnel transporting him to HealthPark, had to be restrained to the gurney at the emergency room. He was agitated again in the back seat of the patrol car on the way to jail after his arrest at about 3 a.m. Tuesday morning. Emergency room testing revealed a positive result for marijuana.
The investigation is continuing at this time.