Teen seriously hurt in Lehigh Acres hit-and-run; neighbors say intersection has long raised safety concerns

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — A 16-year-old is recovering after a hit-and-run crash Saturday night at the intersection of Homestead Road and Parkdale Boulevard in Lehigh Acres.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says the teenager was riding a mini bike when he was hit by a driver who left the scene. Deputies have released few details about what led up to the crash, saying only that the Traffic Unit is actively investigating. WINK News has requested the crash report.

The teen's cousin, Ricky Mancha, says he rushed to help after learning what happened.

"He was in and out of conscious. He, he, he. It was really hard to see. I didn't like seeing my cousin like that. It was really bad."

Mancha says the teenager tried calling him from the side of the road after the crash. He didn't answer the call but says the teen left a voicemail. Mancha believes the driver who hit his cousin can be heard yelling in the background of that recording.

After getting the call, Mancha says family members rushed to the teen, took him home and called for an ambulance.

"He cuts cuts on his arms, his legs, stitches."

While investigators have not said what caused the crash, people who live near the intersection say they have been worried about it for years.

Neighbor Elsy Ruby says drivers on Parkdale Boulevard have difficulty seeing traffic approaching on Homestead Road because of the curve.

"If you're gonna turn... it's really hard to see when cars are coming."

To better understand those concerns, WINK News mounted a camera on a vehicle and drove the intersection. From the stop sign on Parkdale Boulevard, drivers have to pull forward before they can clearly see northbound traffic approaching around the curve.

This is not the first serious crash at the intersection. In 2022, WINK News covered a crash in which a 25-year-old motorcyclist was killed after colliding with an SUV at the same intersection.

Mancha says crashes in the area have made him extra cautious.

"There's always always accidents over here, so I'll always make sure to look 1, 2, 3 times."

WINK News reached out to Lee County to ask whether the intersection has previously been evaluated for a four-way stop, whether there have been prior complaints and whether this latest crash could prompt a review.

A county spokesperson declined to answer those questions while the investigation remains active, writing, “We do not have anything to share with media at this time related to this intersection due to the active status of LCSO's case."

The Lee County Sheriff's Office says it continues to investigate the hit-and-run.