Two arrested in connection to Fort Myers street racing crash that put person in coma

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Two men accused of street racing at extreme speeds on a busy Fort Myers roadway have been jailed months after a violent crash left a 73-year-old man in a coma and scattered wreckage more than 700 feet across US-41, according to Fort Myers police.

Oziel Silva and Stephan Keith Terrell turned themselves in last week in connection with the July 27, 2025, crash near the intersection of US-41 and Crawford Street, just south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Investigators say the two were accused of racing northbound at speeds approaching 120 miles per hour when the collision occurred.

The crash critically injured Yvon Coulange, 73, who had been driving a maroon Chevrolet SUV and was turning left onto Crawford Street when his vehicle was struck. Coulange spent five days in a coma and remained hospitalized for nearly two months following multiple surgeries.

“God conserved my life. I know that,” Coulange told Gulf Coast News, adding that his memory remains foggy from the trauma.

According to the Fort Myers Police Department, video evidence and witness statements show a Kia and a BMW traveling at least three times the posted speed limit before the crash. Investigators said the impact was so violent that Coulange’s engine was ejected from his vehicle and landed on the south side of the roadway.

Police reported debris covered both northbound and southbound lanes of Cleveland Avenue, with damage extending to nearby businesses and fencing. One vehicle came to rest on its side nearly 400 feet from the point of impact.

Coulange recalled seeing the two cars moments before impact.

“Two cars, two friends,” he said. “But he hit my car.”

Terrell was critically injured in the crash and transported to the hospital, where he remained in intensive care before later being transferred to a long-term care facility. Silva and a passenger were also hospitalized with injuries.

Police said Silva was accused of operating a vehicle in Florida with a revoked Florida driver’s license, though he held a valid license from Washington state.

After months of investigation, including analysis of vehicle data recorders, drone imaging, witness interviews, and DNA evidence, detectives said they determined both drivers knowingly engaged in reckless racing on a public roadway.

Terrell is facing charges of multiple offenses, including reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, dangerous excessive speed exceeding 100 mph, and racing on a highway. Silva faces related charges stemming from the incident.

In total, investigators said the crash occurred during daylight hours on a heavily traveled roadway, placing numerous motorists at risk.

Coulange, who continues to recover, said he hopes his experience serves as a warning to others.

“Be careful when you drive,” he said.

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