Woman hospitalized after crash at ‘dangerous’ Lee County intersection

OLGA, Fla. – A 79-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after a two-car crash at a notoriously dangerous intersection Sunday morning.

The crash occurred at State Road 80 and South Olga Drive. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has reported 86 crashes at that same intersection in the last six months.

Paul Green lives feet away from the intersection. He said it is a hassle to leave his home for a commute to Fort Myers.

“There’s heavy traffic in the morning and heavy traffic in the afternoon and it’s tough to get out there in the middle lane and then leave,” Green said. “This is the only way to get to go west and go down to Fort Myers. I would say 90 percent of the traffic is going west rather than going towards Labelle.”

At the intersection there are at least two “Drive Safely” memorial signs — reminders of the dangers that loom at the crossing. Even when drivers do not have accidents, Green said they frequently come close.

“If you sit there long enough, I’m sure you’ll see some very close calls. It won’t take you long,” he said. “I wish there was something else that we could do, but I don’t know what it is other than just take your time there.”

The 79-year-old was cited for not stopping at a stop sign.