Crash victim remains hospitalized
A Cape Coral woman remained hospitalized Wednesday after being ejected from a motorcycle that she was riding over the weekend.
Valerie Sue Lucht, 58, of 1620 S.E. Eighth Ave., was listed in critical condition at Lee Memorial Hospital, according to officials. She was trauma alerted there Sunday with life-threatening injures following the accident.
According to police, Lucht was a passenger on a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was being driven by her husband, Ronald Martin Lucht, 57.
The two were traveling east on Hancock Bridge Parkway when Ronald lost control of the motorcycle at about 4:32 p.m. and Valerie was ejected.
She reportedly sustained a head injury, spinal and rib fractures, while her husband was treated on scene. Neither were wearing helmets at the time.
The couple were headed east on Hancock in the outside lane when a van in front of them slowed to turn south in the 100 block.
Ronald, who reportedly told police that he was not paying attention, tried to quickly move into the inside lane.
After the shift to the left, Ronald made a sudden compensating turn to the right to recover in the inside lane, according to police. The over-correction caused the motorcycle to wobble side to side, throwing Valerie off the seat.
The motorcycle continued to wobble until it rotated and turned on it side, sliding along the roadway and striking a mailbox before stopping.
Witnesses told police that Ronald got up after the accident and ran over to his wife.
According to police, Ronald indicated that prior to the crash he had been drinking at the Moose Lodge, at 155 Santa Barbara Blvd. N. Ronald agreed to and submitted to the officers a voluntary sample of his blood to be tested.
Results are pending.
The accident remains under investigation.