Midpoint Memorial Bridge reopens after crash

FORT MYERS, Fla. A crash downed power lines and blocked both directions of the Midpoint Memorial Bridge for almost two hours Wednesday, Fort Myers police said.

The bridge reopened shortly before 1 p.m., after the power lines were cleared. They had been laying in front of Royal Palm Square, just west of Colonial Boulevard at Summerlin Road.

Some traffic lights were out on Summerlin south of Colonial.

About 100 customers were left without power near the scene, Florida Power and Light said. It was originally expected to take until midnight to restore power, an FPL worker said, though most had power restored by shortly before 4 p.m. FPL estimates the remaining 29 customers without power will get it back between 9 p.m. and midnight.

The crash happened when an unknown white vehicle cut off a red Dodge Viper, which lost control and collided with a power pole, police said. Debris from the car was scattered across the scene.

The white vehicle fled the scene, police said.

Two people were inside the Viper. Minor injuries were reported, according to police. A woman could be seen on a stretcher being loaded onto an ambulance headed for Lee Memorial Hospital.

Traffic on Colonial Boulevard was backed up beyond the U.S. 41 overpass, police said. Cape Coral police were diverting traffic on the west side of the bridge.