"I'm thankful that I'm actually still here": 17-year-old driver rear-ended on Sanibel Causeway

Fort Myers, Fla. (WINK) — A 17-year-old driver says he nearly lost his life after getting rear-ended on the Sanibel Causeway during the holiday weekend.

Dylan Neault was driving home early Sunday morning after hanging out with friends at the beach when he says he was rear-ended with such force that he almost tipped over the edge of the causeway. Sanibel PD says they, along with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, shut down the causeway for hours after the crash.

"I'm thankful that I'm actually still here. It could've gone any other way. I probably wouldn't be talking right now. Or I could be either critically injured, in the hospital, or gone," Neault said.

Neault told WINK News’ Zoe Warner that because of the force of slamming his truck into the railing, he thought he was going to tip into the water.

However, Neault emerged from the vehicle with only scratches and bruises. But when he got out to see who hit him, no one was there.

"Their car caught on fire. All the witnesses thought they were still in there, so they (first responders) got hammers. They broke the windows. There's no one in there. It was shocking. Like, how do you just leave after that and be completely okay with yourself? I mean, morally, it's heartbreaking. And I'm a teenager, you know, I'm a minor, like, think as a parent. How can you just do that?" Neault said.

Neault said first responders searched for the other driver for hours. He added that detectives told him they questioned the driver and another person in the vehicle after it was found, but no charges have been filed, and there's no accountability from the driver yet.

"My life is upside down because of this. I don't just have money lying around to buy a new truck. I mean, I worked years for this thing, I just bought it three weeks ago," Neault said.

Neault said detectives and witnesses told him there were two people in the other vehicle. WINK News reached out to the Lee County Sheriff's Office for more details, to which they responded: 

"LCSO Traffic detectives are actively working this case and following up on leads related to this crash. At this time, the investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are working diligently to gather all available facts and evidence to ensure a thorough investigation is completed. 

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact LCSO."

As Neault recovers from the emotional, physical, and financial impact of the crash, he tells WINK News that he hopes the other driver comes forward soon.

"This man needs to get some punishment for this. These were two lives that were put completely at risk, including whoever was in the car with him, like it's not only people he hit, but what if it was his son in there with him? He could have died, too," Neault said.