A quiet Lehigh Acres street has been shattered by a devastating wrong-way crash that claimed the life of a young woman and left three others, including a two-year-old child, fighting for their lives. Garry Joseph, 42, is now facing a slate of serious felony charges, including DUI manslaughter, after authorities say he barreled down the wrong lane at high speed, slamming into a family out for a walk.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Joseph was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Douglas Lane when the unthinkable happened. His vehicle violently collided with two women, a man, and a toddler, all of whom were walking together on the road. The force of the impact was so brutal that all four victims were violently thrown from their feet. Remarkably, Joseph didn’t stop there; he continued his destructive path, veering across a driveway and careening through multiple residential yards before his vehicle finally came to a halt.
Adding a layer of heartbreak and outrage, reports indicate Joseph then abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving the critically injured victims behind. He was later apprehended by law enforcement, his attempt to evade responsibility only deepening the pain for a community already reeling from the sudden loss and the horrific circumstances.
The devastating scene claimed the life of 27-year-old Resa Unwritten, who tragically died at the crash site despite frantic efforts by emergency responders. A second 27-year-old woman and the two-year-old girl suffered what are described as critical, life-threatening injuries. The sole male victim, a 31-year-old man, also sustained serious injuries. All four individuals are residents of Lehigh Acres, and their families and neighbors are grappling with unimaginable grief and disbelief.
Joseph is now formally charged with multiple offenses, including DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, and three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious injury. He has been booked into the Lee County Jail as investigators meticulously work through the evidence, piecing together the full scope of this preventable tragedy.
The collision occurred near the intersection of Douglas Lane and Harold Avenue, an area usually characterized by its peaceful residential atmosphere. Now, it stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving. Authorities have confirmed that alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash and are imploring drivers to exercise the utmost caution on the roadways, emphasizing that these kinds of life-altering incidents can be entirely avoided when individuals make the responsible choice not to drive under the influence.
