Investigation continues into traffic fatality
Cape Coral police continue their investigation into a traffic crash that resulted in the death of a 12-year-old girl and injury to two other pedestrians Wednesday in a shopping center parking lot off Del Prado Boulevard.
Sierra Rose Vazquez, of Cape Coral, was walking toward the Walmart Supercenter with her parents when she was struck by an SUV driven by Roy Hensley, 85, according to a police report from the Cape Coral Police Department released Thursday.
Ivan Vazquez, 63, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers. Susanne K. Cohn-Vazquez, 43, sustained minor injuries.
According to police, Hensley was parked in a parking space in front of the entrance of the Walmart, 1619 Del Prado Blvd. South.
He began to back out of the space and pressed the accelerator pedal of his 2015 Toyota Highlander, instead of the brakes.
Hensley accelerated in reverse eastbound toward the front entrance of Walmart just as the three pedestrians were crossing from the parking lot to the store, according to the CCPD.
The vehicle struck all three, projecting the adults to the northeast and running over the girl, who was transported to the Gulf Coast Hospital trauma center with life-threatening injuries. She later died at the hospital from injuries sustained in the crash, the report states.
Hensley’s vehicle continued in reverse while he steered to the right, causing him to turn back to the west and down another parking lane, where his rear bumper crashed into the rear bumper of a second vehicle.
Both vehicles continued west down the parking lane until Hensley’s vehicle stopped. The second vehicle left the scene of the crash, the report states.
Hensley was uninjured.
Alcohol and drugs are not a factor in this crash nor was speed a factor at this time, police said.
Walmart, through its Corporate Communications office, issued a statement in response to a Breeze request for comment.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident at our Cape Coral store which appears to have been a horrible accident. Our hearts are broken for the victim’s family, and we pray for the recovery for the others involved. We’ll continue working closely with law enforcement as they investigate the incident,” the statement reads.
This was the fifth traffic fatality in the city this year.
There were 12 in 2021.
Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information about it is asked to contact the Cape Coral Police Department at 574-3223, submitting an anonymous tip at www.capecops.com/tips, https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous , sending a message through CCPD’s social media platforms or calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
Use case report #22-014534.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com