Teen dies in morning U.S. 41 crash in Lee

A teenager died in a one-vehicle crash this morning in Lee County.

The victim was identified only as an 18-year-old Hispanic man, pending notification of family.

Authorities this morning reported two people were killed in the crash. A report from the Florida Highway Patrol this afternoon indicated one person was killed in the crash.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 2002 Toyota pickup truck overturned on U.S. 41 north of Alico Road. The crash occurred at 4:51 a.m. about one-tenth of a mile south of Island Park Road on U.S. 41.

Authorities said the truck was southbound on U.S. 41 when the driver, Rolando M. Quintana Jr., 20, of 15020 Maple Tree Drive, East Naples, lost control because of careless driving. The vehicle’s undercarriage struck the curb, then Quintana over-corrected while trying to re-enter the southbound lanes, a highway patrol report said.

The truck then traveled across the southbound lanes while rotating counter-clockwise, causing it to overturn. The truck went across the raised median and all three northbound lanes while continuing to overturn.

Both rear passengers – Brittany M. Downie, 17, of Naples, and the man who died -- were ejected. Downie suffered serious injuries and was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, authorities said.

The rear passengers weren’t wearing a seat belt, although the driver and front-seat passenger were wearing a seat belt.

Quintana, who was partially ejected from the driver's side window, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, troopers said. The front-seat passenger, Angelina P. Zappa, of East Naples, suffered minor injuries, the highway patrol said.

Charges in the accident are pending.