Charges filed in wake of fatal crash in Fort Myers
A man remained in jail Tuesday following a fatal accident that involved a Cape Coral motorist.
Shannon Omar Mitchell, 27, of 3315 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, is being held at the Lee County Jail on charges tied to a two-vehicle crash last month on U.S. 41 that resulted in the death of his passenger.
Kyla Dion Nesmith, 40, of Fort Myers, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials reported.
The driver of the second vehicle, Paul Robert Jenkins, 42, of the Cape, sustained minor injuries.
Jenkins was transported to Gulf Coast Hospital, where he was treated and later released.
According to jail records, Mitchell was booked Thursday on one count each of homicide negligence manslaughter vehicle killing or person or viable fetus with vehicle, drive while license suspended death serious injury, flee elude police flee elude law enforcement officer at high speed and cocaine possess.
He is being held without bond.
At about 2:59 p.m. Nov. 6, Mitchell and Nesmith were northbound in a Chevrolet Cavalier when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper tried to initiate a traffic stop in the area of Broadway for illegally tinted windows. Mitchell failed to stop, continuing northbound at a high rate of speed, officials reported.
As the Chevrolet fled, the trooper discontinued the attempt to stop the vehicle.
Moments later, Mitchell lost control of the Chevrolet and crossed over the raised median of 41. The vehicle overturned onto the southbound lanes and struck a Toyota Tacoma, driven by Jenkins.
The Chevrolet came to a stop just south of Sanibel Boulevard.
Mitchell was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with critical injuries.
Upon his release from the hospital Thursday, he was taken into custody and charged.
“This case remains under investigation, so no additional information will be released at this time,” Lt. Gregory Bueno, a spokesman for the FHP, reported in a prepared statement released last week.
Mitchell has a court appearances scheduled for Jan. 2 and Jan. 8.