Published on Sunday, January 1, 2006
in the Naples Daily News

FHP: 57 died on Collier roads in 2005

Despite rapid growth and development throughout Collier County, Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported that the number of traffic-related fatalities in 2005 remained on par with 2004.

FHP spokesman Lt. Darren Sapp said there were 57 traffic-related deaths on Collier roads in 2005 — the same number recorded the previous year.

Although the FHP has yet to determine how many of the traffic fatalities were related to drunken driving, Sapp said he still warned residents to be extra cautious of impaired drivers during the holiday season.

"The big thing, as always, is don't drink and drive, especially on a weekend synonymous with parties like New Year's," he said. "When you pull out on the road, take an extra second to look and be observant of your environment."

One crash that attracted the attention of the East Naples community was a Checker Cab crash on June 26 that killed a pair of veterans and seriously injured their driver.

The roommates, Army veteran George Corbly, 63, and Navy veteran Gerry Bowerman, 64, both of Naples, were killed in the crash while en route to AMVETS Post 23, a private veterans' bar in East Naples.

The cab, driven by Checker Cab employee Ronald Harris, 35, smashed into a tree on Shadowlawn Drive, just south of Davis Boulevard.

Investigators determined the crash was caused by a medical condition suffered by Harris.

In Lee County, traffic fatalities increased in 2005 from the previous year.

"Traffic deaths continue to be the No. 1 and most discouraging concern right now," said Lee Sheriff Mike Scott said. "We're killing a record amount of people."

The past year was easily the most deadly year on record in Lee County. Unofficial numbers showed 148 people died on county roads, well above the 108 killed in 2004, and 27 more than the record of 121, set in 2003.

The year seemed to feature fatality after fatality, with each bringing more attention to the need to do something, said Sgt. Robert Forrest, of the Sheriff Office's traffic unit.

The year 2005 started off with a deadly streak. In the first two weeks, 11 people had died on county roads, including five in a single Jan. 12 accident.

From there things did not get much better. The county hit 50 in early April. By the time August rolled around 100 people had died. And in October the county hit 122 deaths, surpassing its mark for most deaths in a year. The last two months were quieter, but not without a fair share of deaths, including a mid-December wreck on U.S. 41 that claimed the lives of four local teenagers.

Lee County isn't alone in the increase in deaths. As of mid-December the state had nearly 3,350 traffic deaths, up from the record of 3,257 in 2004. Additionally, statistics from the Florida Highway patrol show that 38 of the state's 67 counties had already matched or surpassed last year's death totals by mid-December.

Officials are attributing the high number of deaths to a number of factors. The most obvious, says Forrest, is that the county and state is increasing in population. And with more people, come more cars, and more opportunities for accidents.

But on top of that, Forrest said, drivers are not being as careful as they can be. Cell phones, GPS systems, stereos, children in the car and even daydreaming are causing people to lose focus during a time when they should be paying the most attention.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is making traffic diligence one of its biggest concern in 2006. More crackdowns, and citations will be issued, and Scott said he hopes to reduce the traffic deaths in the new year.

"Any driver that dies is one too many," Scott said.