One killed in Fort Myers crash

Reporter: Stephanie Susskind
Published: Updated:
MGN

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A 77-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning after he was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Bayshore and Hart roads.

Emery Earl Okerlund, of North Fort Myers, was hit at 6:36 a.m. by a 1999 GMC as he crossed Bayshore Road against the signal, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The driver, Amanda Eileen Lapon, 24, of North Fort Myers, was traveling eastbound and did not see Okerlund, troopers said.

Lapon swerved to avoid contact, but the front left portion of her vehicle hit Okerlund, the highway patrol said. Okerlund was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, troopers said. Lapon was not injured.

Tera Rose, who witnessed the wreck, said the intersection is dangerous.

“We thought somebody was fixing the truck underneath it and then we realized the man wasn’t moving,” she said. “I wanted to support her. I feel really bad. I feel bad for both families. Right before Christmas. It’s really hard.”

The incident remains under investigation.

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