Man faces DUI charges after hit-and-run crash in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A Fort Myers man is facing charges of DUI after a crash in the intersection of Metro Parkway and Winkler Avenue on New Year's Day.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, officers arrived and saw a white Toyota Camry with extensive damage after a crash with a white Ford F-150. Officers noted that a wheel was detached from the pickup truck, and there was heavy debris and deep gouge marks in the roadway.

A witness told police that the Ford fled from the scene despite the damage and continued driving without a front tire, scraping the roadway.

Officers were able to track the truck's path across multiple roadways by using the visible damage that was left behind.

The Ford was later found by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. According to FMPD, it was missing its front passenger-side tire, with the axle dug into the ground due to the weight of the vehicle.

The driver of the Ford pickup truck, Michael Schott, 52, was then taken into custody. Officers stated that he had a strong odor of alcohol, and Schott also refused to submit to a breath test after being read the implied consent.

Schott was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital and later booked into the Lee County Jail after receiving medical clearance. He is facing charges of hit and run (leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage), DUI with damage to property or person, and DUI refusal to submit to testing.

According to FMPD, the victim in the crash suffered minor injuries.

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