Search is on for Good Samaritan, witness of deadly 2017 Fort Myers crash

Reporter: Peter Fleischer
Published: Updated:
Witness sought in deadly crash
Scene of deadly crash on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers on March, 1, 2017.

The hunt is still on for a key witness after a man was pulled out of a burning car following a deadly crash five years ago.

Now, that man who survived faces vehicular homicide charges, and the witness who saved him hasn’t been found.

Investigators believe that a witness could have crucial information related to that March 1, 2017 crash to help the case.

An arrest warrant states a green Ford Mustang was flying down McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers at speeds close to 100 miles per hour, sometimes on the wrong side of the road.

The car eventually crashed and one man was killed when he was thrown through the windshield.

Witness sought in deadly crash
Scene of deadly crash on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers on March, 1, 2017.

The other man was seriously injured but pulled out of the car alive while it was on fire.

Attorney Christopher O’Brien called it a tragedy because he lost his friend in the crash.

O’Brien represents the survivor of the crash, Andrew Conlyn, who tried to put his life back together.

“He was injured in the accident. Recovered. Went on with his life,” O’Brien said.

After 989 days – or more than two-and-a-half years after the crash – Conlyn was arrested and charged with vehicular homicides after Fort Myers Police determined he was the driver and thus responsible for the victim’s death.

“He’d moved on with his life basically,” O’Brien said. “And then out of the blue, there’s a warrant for you. Homicide.”

The crash occurred on McGregor Boulevard between Cordova and Lynwood avenues.

Witness sought in deadly crash
The witness who is sought is seen here on police bodycam video while at the scene of a deadly crash on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers on March, 1, 2017.

Fort Myers Police and Conlyn’s legal team agree that the witness who pulled Conlyn out of the burning car at this scene that night could change the entire case.

The witness was seen and heard on body camera telling officers:

Officer: “He wasn’t the driver?

Witness: “No, he was the passenger.”

But records show the officer did not collect that witness’ name or information.

O’Brien explained, “They never asked his name. Never something as simple as, ‘hey, stick around. We want to have you talk with the traffic homicide investigator,'” adding, “The investigation was a bit of a shamble. That’s as nicely as I can say that.”

We reached out to the Fort Myers Police Department about the crash and a representative explained that officers were tending to other duties, such as securing the crash scene and ensuring that Conlyn was safe.

Witness sought in deadly crash
Scene of deadly crash on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers on March, 1, 2017.

Records show officers interviewed at least three other witnesses, all of whom had their information collected, but none of whom offered conclusive information about who was driving the car.

Since the night of the crash, authorities haven’t located the witness who pulled Conlyn from the car.

According to Florida law, vehicular homicide carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Conlyn’s lawyers are asking the public for help in continuing the hunt for that key witness, and good Samaritan.

“He ran up to a burning car and pulled a guy out of it. Having saved our client five years ago,” O’Brien added. “He can save him again by coming forward and getting to the truth of what happened, and where Mr. Conlyn was in that car.”

Anyone with information on the witness in our story can contact the law offices of Christopher O’Brien at (239) 337-0448.

Witness sought in deadly crash
The witness who is sought is seen here on police bodycam video while at the scene of a deadly crash on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers on March, 1, 2017.

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