Fort Myers DUI suspect accused of leading deputies on chase, causing crash on Winkler Rd

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A Fort Myers man is accused of causing a vehicle crash while driving away from deputies during a chase Sunday evening.

According to an arrest report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of Winkler Road and Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. Both drivers had been transported to a hospital for their injuries.

Deputies spoke with the driver of one vehicle, who told them that he was going south on Winkler Road when he stopped at a red light. He added that he remembered the other vehicle coming toward him and hitting his front left fender.

The driver reportedly told deputies that he could see the other person on the ground screaming "my life is over" repeatedly.

Deputies spoke with the other person involved in the crash, identified as Corey Dee German, 44. He reportedly immediately apologized. Before the crash, the report says, deputies had made contact with German driving on South Tamiami Trail because they saw he was unable to drive within a single lane.

A traffic stop was attempted, the report says. However German sped off, making a U-turn. Deputies say they tried to use the grappler, a device used to help stop vehicles during chases. However, deputies say, German sped up, so it failed to deploy.

Due to German accelerating, the report says, he lost control of the vehicle and hit the other driver on Winkler Road.

Medical staff at the hospital reportedly told deputies that German had a blood alcohol level of 0.07. German was medically cleared and arrested on charges of fleeing and eluding, DUI with damage to property and driving with a suspended license.

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