Young bicyclists injured in accident discharged from Lee Memorial
Two teens were sent to the hospital Sunday night after a vehicle versus bicycle crash.
The Cape Coral police reported that Wilkie L. Jewett III, 13, of 528 N.W. 18th Ave., and Kadoffe J. Mathis, 11, of 310 S.W. 24th Ave., were taken to Lee Memorial Hospital following the accident.
As of Tuesday, both teens had been treated and discharged, according to hospital officials.
Jewett was operating a bicycle northbound on Nott Road, while Mathis stood on pegs attached to the rear wheel. As they came to Pine Island Road, Jewett made a right turn into the bicycle lane in the 1900 block at 7:31 p.m. He then attempted to cross Pine Island from the south to the north, police reported.
The bicycle entered into the path of a Chevrolet Cruze headed east in the inside lane.
The left front of the vehicle collided with the left side of the bicycle, according to police. Jewett was thrown from the bicycle and came to rest in the center median. The collision propelled Mathis onto the vehicle’s hood and then windshield. He became airborne, finally coming to rest in the center median.
Jewett sustained multiple non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. Mathis sustained life-threatening injuries in the accident and was flown by helicopter to the hospital.
Police reported that the bicycle was not equipped with a headlight nor taillight, nor any type of front, rear or side reflectors. Neither Jewett nor Mathis were wearing bicycle safety helmets at the time.
The driver of the vehicle, John L. Bartolotta, 16, of 3833 Mango St., St. James City, was not injured in the crash, neither was his only passenger, Noah S. Hyde, 16, of 2419 Sycamore St., St. James City.