Fatal bicycle crash in Gateway leaves community shaken

GATEWAY, Fla. (WINK) — A man riding a bicycle died after a crash on Plantation Gardens Drive on Saturday.

The crash happened along Plantation Gardens Drive, a road neighbors say they use daily for walking, biking and driving without much concern. That sense of safety is now shaken after the deadly crash.

Fort Myers Police say the bicyclist died at the scene after colliding with a vehicle and that the bicyclist was at fault.

The crash happened in a residential area near schools and streets where people often ride. Local cyclists say the road has wide lanes and is commonly used by riders, which makes this tragedy even harder to understand.

"We're absolutely gutted that something like this happened," said Terrence McLaughlin, president of the Calusa Riders Bicycle Club.

Neighbors say they worry distracted driving may be a factor and that everyone on the road needs to do more to look out for each other.

"It's just odd to me that in such a community, that people would be going that fast or not paying attention, and it's a sad situation," said Gena Marciluonis, a neighbor.

McLaughlin said cyclists must stay vigilant on the road.

"If a car is coming up to an intersection, unless they acknowledge you, they don't see you," McLaughlin said. "And with the distracted drivers, people on their phones, people doing whatever, you've really got to be careful."

For cyclists who ride in this area, this crash changes their perspective.

"Up till now, we thought it was a safe residential neighborhood, and to have something like this happen, it just changes things," Mclaughlin said.

Marciluonis said everyone needs to be more aware while on the road.

"We all need to be a little bit more careful, more cognizant of what we're doing, especially when we're all driving for safety reasons," Marciluonis said.

The name of the victim has not yet been released. The crash remains under investigation