Man arrested in high-speed crash that killed 2 Lehigh Acres brothers

A man accused of killing two people during a November vehicle crash has a history of aggressive driving.

Jeff Efrain Sola-Martinez, 20, was booked into Lee County Jail on Wednesday on two counts of vehicular homicide. The crash happened Nov. 20 on State Road 82, just east of Owen Avenue.

The victims in the crash were William “Bernie” Greer, 50, and his brother, 44-year-old Billy Greer, who were in a 2006 Pontiac Vibe, which was exiting the driveway of Lee Memorial Park at 12777 SR-82 and turned left into the path of the BMW.

The Greers died on impact.

The two brothers died as they were leaving Lee Memorial Park after a visit to their dad’s grave, according to their mother, who declined to be interviewed.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Sola-Martinez, who also sustained minor injuries, was driving a BMW sedan at around 120 mph in a 55-mph zone. Two men, ages 18 and 19, who were passengers in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

It is not the first time Sola-Martinez is in trouble for his driving, records show.

A traffic citation was issued in August 2019 for aggressive driving for improper lane change and pulling out in front of a vehicle going in the same direction, as well as cutting people off at a high rate of speed.

Driving records show he completed an 8-hour aggressive driving course.

The Greer brothers are now resting on either side of their father at Lee Memorial Park.

These tragedies are preventable, said FHP Lt. Greg Bueno.

“It’s heartbreaking because we know we have to go tell the families and their entire universe is fixing to change … that the life they know it is no longer going to be the same,” Bueno said.

“All of our families are out here. We’re all hoping and praying that the driver is doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Bueno added.

Sola-Martinez made his first appearance before a judge Thursday morning. His bond was set at $20,000 per count.

Brandie Greer-Carraway, sister of the Greer brothers, sent WINK News this statement:

William ‘Bernie’ and Billy often went together to Dad’s grave. It was comforting to them to go out and spend time at Dad’s final resting place. I lived out of state at the time and visited twice a year. I didn’t feel the need to visit Dad’s grave. In my heart, I knew he went to Heaven and I found comfort in that. None of us never miss a moment to say ‘I love you’ for that I am so thankful. Losing my brothers Bernie and Billy is a different kind of devastation.

There are no words to allow a person to comprehend the weight that our hearts, minds and souls feel. Their death was sudden and has left a brokenness that only God can heal. Bernie leaves behind two children and one grandchild. Billy leaves behind three children. They leave behind a niece, a nephew and a great-niece. They leave behind a mother who will never see Bernie or Billy’s smiles or hear their laughter. She will never have the opportunity to hug them and tell them she loves them again. Bernie and Billy leave behind a sister that when I think about the loss of never seeing Bernie and Billy again it is at times unbearable.

“And our cousins have especially felt Bernie and Billy’s loss. They loved fishing and being out on the water and never passing up an opportunity to be on the water or at a fishing hole with their cousins. Bernie and Billy were fiercely loved. We are an extremely close-knit family, we have cried together, laughed together and reached out to help each other cope. We are thankful for our family and the many friends that have reached out to all of us.

Please respect our privacy as we move forward and realize more each day of what our new reality has become without Bernie and Billy in it. Two sons, two brothers, two dads, one grandfather, two uncles, two great uncles, two nephews, two cousins and two friends.”