Naples man arrested after fleeing fiery rollover crash that injured passenger in Collier County

A Naples man fled the scene of a crash in which his overturned SUV caught fire in Collier County early Wednesday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, an SUV driven by 18-year-old Alexandre Fontes, was traveling south on Logan Boulevard North, approaching Azalea Drive around 3 a.m., when they drove off the roadway to the right, overturned, and the vehicle erupted in flames. Fontes fled the scene of the crash.

At the scene of the crash, you could see tire tracks, torn-up grass, a knocked-over sign and charred grass.

The passenger, a 19-year-old Naples man, suffered only minor injuries, according to FHP.

Cheryl Locausi said she saw it happen from her bedroom window before moving to the lanai for a better look.

“I figured that the worst had happened that they were burned alive in the car the way I heard the yelling, and it was just an explosion after explosion. We almost thought there were fireworks in the car because the way that car was ignited. It was so dangerous so close to the house two doors down,” Locausi explained.

That 19-year-old unnamed passenger then scaled a wall into StoneCreek community after the crash looking for help.

Jessica Conrad said he came to their home knocking on the door, barefoot and not burned. Not knowing at first what was going on, she said, “We were not gonna answer the doorbell because we did not know who this person was.”

She added. “This man was walking in an easterly direction around the cul de sac, and I heard from some other neighbors that he was ringing their doorbells as well. The no-shoes thing kind of tipped us off, like what’s going on? So my husband called 911 dispatch and told them what was happening.”

FHP troopers spoke to the passenger and they say he’s not under investigation. Fontes has since been arrested.