Woman killed after a car goes off the road and into a Matlacha restaurant

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matlacha crash

A car crash in Matlacha left one person dead and others injured. It happened on Saturday around 5:50 p.m. at a restaurant, That BBQ Place, near the Matlacha Bridge.

The Florida Highway Patrol worked the crash. Spokesperson Lt. Greg Bueno said, “A sedan collided with five pedestrian patrons seated at outside restaurant tables, a parked / unoccupied motorcycle, and a westbound traveling pickup truck.”

matlacha crash

“I don’t know how somebody does something like that,” stated Rory Byman.

An 80-year-old woman was killed in the crash.

Sunday morning, the community is left picking up the pieces.

“He’s driving through the tables. The guy there’s a guy on the hood of the car and another woman on top because they’re trying to hang on,” said Micheal O’Brien, a Cape Coral resident. “I’m fumbling for my phone trying to get 911. I was quick as I could, and then he hit the car coming on the truck coming on. So they stopped him.”

O’Brien and his wife witnessed the crash and jumped into action. They say the scene kept them up at night.

 “You see people flying up in the air and tables. It’s just, I don’t know, I don’t know how to describe it. It was traumatic, you know, very traumatic,” said O’Brien.

But for the friends and family of the four injured, and the woman who died, it’s something that will never leave their minds.

A 77-year-old man had serious injuries. Three others had minor injuries according to FHP.

As the Matlacha community recovers, everyone hopes justice will be served soon.

“The woman who unfortunately, expired, my wife sat next to her and told her ‘Don’t worry, you’re not alone’,” said O’Brien. “It was it was too late for her. I hope the person who was driving the car gets everything he deserves.”

The crash remained under investigation, with charges pending against the 24-year-old driver. The driver’s name has not been released.

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