Cape Coral, FL (March 10, 2020) - One of the victims in a multi-fatal crash that took place in Cape Coral has been identified by authorities. The crash was first reported on Monday, March 9th around 7:20 a.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene along I-75 near the exit for Fruitville Road. According to authorities, 56-year-old Jose Leal and 53-year-old Mario Mendoza were standing along the shoulder of the roadway attempting to change a tire. As the two men were on the shoulder, their vehicles were struck by a Dodge Dakota driven by 24-year-old Joseph Pontillo of Sarasota. Both Leal and Pontillo were killed in the collision. Mendoza was taken to a local hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries. 50-year-old Joseph Lydic, who was driving a cement truck, was also killed in the crash.
FHP continues to investigate and no further details have been released at this time.
A Florida car accident is often a very serious and catastrophic event. This is especially true when family members have lost their loved ones due to a fatal accident. There is nothing more devastating than the sudden loss of a loved one in a traffic crash, especially when the crash has taken place at the hands of a negligent driver.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic crash in Cape Coral.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see any information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
