Man struck by car released from hospital
A pedestrian has been released from the hospital after being struck by a Cape Coral driver.
As of Tuesday, Hector Pualino Ortiz Gonzalez, 45, of Lehigh Acres, had been discharged from Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was taken on July 6 following the accident, according to officials.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Joseph Jacob Sickler, 34, was driving a Toyota Camry east on Littleton Road, about 50 feet west of Windmill Boulevard. At the time, roadside work was being done by the Asplundh Tree Expert Company along the south shoulder of the roadway.
At about 8:40 a.m., the right front of the Toyota struck Gonzalez. Standing in the center of the eastbound lane, Gonzalez was working as a flagger for the Asplundh Tree Expert Company.
Sickler attempted to avoid Gonzalez by swerving to the left, but was unable to avoid the collision, according to the FHP. He told authorities that he was looking at his radio prior to the collision.
Gonzalez was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.
Sickler was not injured in the accident.
The FHP charged Sickler with careless driving. The crash was not alcohol related.