Weekly wrecks and lost lives: the deadly reality of Burnt Store Road

CAPE CORAL, Fla (WINK) — For weeks, WINK Investigates has been pressing for transparency about safety concerns along one of Cape Coral’s busiest roadways. Now, newly obtained records from the Cape Coral Police Department reveal the extent of accidents on Burnt Store Road over the past year.

After filing a public records request and waiting nearly two weeks, WINK Investigates received a year’s worth of crash data tracking every reported wreck along Burnt Store Road and its connecting intersections in 2025.

The numbers show a pattern of crashes, injuries, and lives lost on Burnt Store Road.

According to Cape Coral Police, there were 58 recorded crashes along Burnt Store Road last year—an average of nearly one wreck every week. 

Investigators found that the most serious incidents, known as “long-form” crash reports, were concentrated at specific problem areas. The intersection at Southwest Pine Island Road recorded at least seven crashes, making it the most dangerous stretch identified in the data.

Traffic projections from the Florida Department of Transportation indicate the number of vehicles could more than double by 2045, increasing from 14,000 to over 32,000 vehicles per day.

Behind the statistics are real people and real loss.

WINK News has spoken with families grieving loved ones killed on the roadway, as well as survivors who narrowly escaped with their lives. Kevin McGrotty, who was injured in a crash on Burnt Store Road, recalls the moment his life changed.

“He immediately turned left and hit the back end of his vehicle, and the bike slid up, and I flew over his windshield,” McGrotty said.

The new data obtained by WINK Investigates shows that between January 1st, 2025 and January 20 of this year, police records show two deadly crashes on Burnt Store Road that claimed a total of four lives.

The data also reveals a clear timeline of heightened danger. Crash activity peaked during the summer and fall of 2025. In August alone, officers responded to six separate crashes within a 13-day span.

Residents are calling for changes to improve safety on Burnt Store Road.

"It really needs to take high priority in widening and, of course, eventually four lanes," said Jeff Mahl, a resident of Saint James City.

While the data sheds light on the locations and timing of these incidents, the reasons behind the deadly crashes are still under investigation. WINK Investigates will continue to provide updates as new information emerges.