2 arrested in separate racing, reckless driving incidents in Lee County

 

The Florida Highway Patrol reminds drivers of the dangers and consequences of reckless driving and street racing following two recent arrests of people caught driving dangerously on Lee County roads.

Troopers saw two vehicles going as fast as 123 mph in a 55-mph zone on SR-82 near 40th Street SW just before midnight on Jan. 20. One of the cars, a Honda Accord, was stopped, and the driver, 21-year-old Ricardo Domingo Pascual of Immokalee, was arrested. He faces charges of reckless driving, racing on highways, and driving with a suspended license.

Two days later, on Jan. 22, troopers saw a Chevrolet Camaro speeding down SR-82, doing 91 mph in a 55-mph zone near Sunshine Boulevard. Troopers say the car drove into a ditch after FHP attempted a traffic stop, and the driver fled.

On Jan. 24, troopers located the driver, Joshua Anthony Robles, 33, of Lehigh Acres, and placed him under arrest. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash, fraud/making a false statement, reckless driving, obstruction, and a probation violation.

FHP is using these two cases as an example for all motorists to abide by posted speed limits. Reckless driving and racing are both arrestable offenses and are extremely dangerous for the drivers involved and all other road users in the area.

“To hold someone accountable through an arrest, that’s a win because, again, we’re trying to deter that behavior,” said Lt. Greg Bueno with FHP. “There is an aggressiveness, a lack of patience, trying to outdistance each other… we have seen that.”

“It’s about saving your life; it’s about saving you from going to prison if you kill someone,” said safety advocate Lili Trujillo-Puckett. “You lose control. You’re not a professional racer. You don’t know how to control speed… you’re going so fast there’s no way you can stop. You can kill someone or kill yourself.”

It’s a tough crime to catch, but now it’s easier to punish after a new law went into effect in October, allowing law enforcement to arrest street racers for videos they post on social media or anywhere else online. Those charged are subject to enhanced penalties, including license suspensions, increased fines, stiffer penalties if a serious injury or death is involved, and vehicle impoundment.