Woman arrested for fatal Fort Myers crash last year

Fort Myers police have arrested a 51-year-old woman for her alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run crash more than a year ago.

Fort Myers police say community tips led to the arrest of Michelle Ochran, who was booked into Lee County Jail on Wednesday.

According to police, Paul Hanson was struck and killed while walking home from work around 8:30 p.m on Jan. 23, 2021. Hanson was crossing Fowler Street at the time of the crash.

WINK News spoke with Paul Hanson’s daughter, who only felt comfortable texting but said she’s still processing the latest development in this case.

She said the news of the arrest is reopening some very painful memories she experienced when she lost her father about a year ago.

As for the woman accused of killing Hanson, she bonded out of jail on Wednesday afternoon. Her bond was set at $250,000.

WINK News reporter Justin Kase tried asking her questions as she left the Lee County Jail.

She didn’t respond to any questions and quickly tried walking away.

Investigators say Ochran hit Hanson as he was trying to cross Fowler Street just over a year ago. They say she never stopped, leaving him to die in the road.

Just days after the crash, police found the SUV that hit Hanson. Based on the address listed for Ochran on the Lee County Jail website, the SUV was found about a half-mile away from where she lives.

As for Paul Hanson’s family. His daughter said, “this made everything kind of new again.”

She shared pictures of her father spending time with his grandchildren. She said anything that helps bring justice for ‘papa’ is what the family wants.

WINK News reached out to Fort Myers police several times to find out more about how they connected Ochran to the deadly hit and run. We will bring that to you as soon as we get that information.

Ochran is set to be back in court next month. She faces a charge of leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving death.