Cape man charged with manslaughter for April traffic accident
A motorist has been charged in connection to a fatal traffic accident from April in Cape Coral.
On Friday, Cape police arrested and charged Michael John Getts, 35, of 9631 Littleton Road, North Fort Myers, with homicide negligent manslaughter with vehicle killing of human being or unborn child with vehicle, homicide negligent manslaughter with vehicle DUI cause death to human or unborn child and DUI unlawful blood alcohol .15 or higher or with person under 18, according to official records.
He was additionally charged with two counts of DUI unlawful blood alcohol damage property.
As of Tuesday, Getts had been released from the Lee County Jail on $50,000 bond.
He did not return a message seeking comment on the charges against him.
At 11:12 p.m., April 10, Getts was driving a Kia east on Northeast Pine Island Road when he changed lanes in the 2400 block. When he did, Getts struck an eastbound Chevrolet van being driven by Francis George Paulette III, 20, of 4520 Vinsetta Ave., North Fort Myers, according to officials.
The left front section of the Kia struck the passenger side of the Chevy. The impact redirected the vehicles and both drove off the road. The Kia entered and then exited a ditch, where the driver’s front side hit a tree and came to a rest. The Chevy rolled over, entered the ditch and stopped on its roof.
Police reported that a witness was able to stop and remove Paulette and Getts’ passenger, Lonnie William Retherford, 36, of Lake Wales, from the vehicles. Getts was pinned inside of the Kia.
Both vehicles caught on fire before responders arrived and extricated Getts.
All three were trauma-alerted to Lee Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
On April 12, Retherford died from the injuries that he sustained in the crash.
Getts and Paulette were treated and released from the hospital.
During the investigation, it was determined that Getts had a medical blood alcohol content of 0.206, according to officials. A search warrant was obtained for the event data recorder, or black box, from the Kia. After downloading the data, it was determined that the Kia was traveling in excess of 100 mph.
On Friday, Getts met with authorities outside the jail, where he was placed under arrest.
He has an arraignment scheduled for Nov. 21.