Caught on camera: Car bursts into flames after high-speed crash in Estero

Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Image from surveillance video of Estero crash.

A fiery crash on Halloween night. A car goes airborne and loses control before hitting a light pole, bursting into flames, spinning and ending up back on its wheels.

It happened as the car was speeding down Ben Hill Griffin Parkway at Alico Road in Estero.

Concrete exploded and debris was thrown into the grass near the road.

People from the area say the driver is lucky to be alive.

“That’s terrible. He didn’t hit another car just solo? That’s insane,” said Jordan who lives in Estero.

A Florida Highway Patrol report said Port Authority clocked the driver going 109 miles per hour before crashing along Ben Hill Griffin Parkway near the Ultimate Car Wash.

Jim Gary, who works at the car wash said, “we were already closed that night. Next day we saw everything. Showed up that morning like neighbor. Concrete everywhere. Clean everything. Car pieces in the grass. It was crazy.”

The driver was hurt, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

“I guess he has an angel out there caring for him. He could die that day,” said Gary.

Miguel Ramos, who lives in Estero said, “I’ve seen a lot of car crashes. But never seen fire. It’s like a movie. That’s amazing he’s still alive.”

Troopers say the driver was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital.

They say he did about $11,000 worth of damage to signs along the road.

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