Police: Motorcyclist crashes, dies
A Cape Coral motorcyclist crashed into a mailbox Tuesday night and later died from the injuries that he sustained.
William G. Ranagan III, 47, of 2022 N.W. Ninth St., was driving a small, black and red compact motorcycle eastbound on Northwest Ninth Terrace when he entered the front yard of a residence in the 2200 block at about 7:18 p.m.
The motorcycle, known as a mini-bike or pocket rocket, struck a mailbox at 2212 N.W. Ninth Terrace. The bike continued to travel east, and Ranagan lost control of the motorcycle while crossing the driveway of the residence.
“Alcohol was a factor in the crash,” Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape police, said. “The victim was not wearing a helmet.”
Ranagan was transported as a trauma alert to Cape Coral Hospital, where he later died from the injuries that he received in the crash.
He is the ninth traffic fatality in the city this year, Barron reported.
A traffic homicide investigation is being conducted.