Victim identified in Cape Coral deadly hit-and-run

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Police are looking for the person who hit and killed a bicyclist, then took off from the scene.

Authorities say the cyclist was hit around 8 p.m. Sunday on Pine Island Road between Del Prado and Andalusia Boulevard, but due to poor lighting condition, was not seen until around 7 a.m. Monday.

The victim has been identified as Joel Nichols, 27, of Cape Coral.

Police say Nichols was riding his bike eastbound on Pine Island Rd. when, according to a witness, a mid to late 90s model Dodge Ram pickup truck veered out of its lane and hit Nichols. Nichols was pronounced dead at the scene.

“You can’t just hit somebody and leave them there to die. Suppose that was your loved one, would you want them dying in the road?” said Joann Kinaszczuk who frequents Pine Island Road.

“I think it’s pretty sad, you know, someone would honestly hit someone and not even report it or stop by and see what they actually hit,” said Matt Wasch, a Cape Coral resident.

A storage shelter located near where the accident occurred tells WINK News they do not have any cameras that could have captured the incident on video.

The stretch of Pine Island Road does have a bike lane, and a posted speed limit of 55 mph.

Police are now searching for the white pickup truck. If you have any information that may help police locate that driver, call Cape Coral Police or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).