Investigation continuing in Cape Coral motorcycle-SUV crash
A Cape Coral motorcyclist remained hospitalized on Thursday following a recent crash.
Jerry Leon Freeman, 72, of 1083 Winding Pines Circle, was listed in critical at Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was taken on Tuesday after the accident at Chiquita Boulevard and Gleason Parkway.
Police reported that a Jeep SUV, being driven by Claudia A. Szecsei, 30, of 2636 S.W. 32nd St., was traveling southbound on Chiquita and approaching Gleason. Freeman was northbound on Chiquita on a Harley-Davidson in the inside lane at the time. Witnesses reported that both had a green traffic light.
At 8:28 p.m., Szecsei tried to turn left onto Gleason but did not see the motorcycle.
Szecsei turned into the path of Freeman, according to police. Freeman skidded, then struck the front section of the Jeep head on. He was ejected from the motorcycle and came down on the roadway.
Both vehicles came to a stop in the middle of the intersection.
Freeman sustained life-threatening injuries and was trauma-alerted to the hospital.
Police reported that he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Neither Szecsei nor her passenger, Anna Szecsei-Sipos, 62, of 2636 S.W. 32nd St., were injured.
“In the THI (traffic homicide investigation) initial report, which is in the press release, it states that it is alcohol/drug related,” Detective Nick Malone, a spokesman for the Cape police, reported via email.
The investigation is ongoing.