Man recovering from crash that killed Naples teen

Wanda Quintana visits her son daily at the surgical intensive care unit of Lee Memorial Hospital since the rollover crash in San Carlos Park.

In tears, Quintana said Rolando M. Quintana Jr., 20, her younger son, suffered severe brain damage and was removed from life support earlier this week.

His speech is a mumble.

"He can’t really talk good yet," said Quintana, 54.

Several months ago, Quintana suffered a massive heart attack and recovered, she said.

"He is a miracle," Quintana said.

He had just begun to move out of his parents’ house.

The past week has been filled with tears and sadness for Quintana’s relatives and friends.

And the family began to turn their thoughts to the financial situation.

Although the family has Medicaid, Quintana said she is concerned that the insurance will not cover the additional recovery treatment that her son will need, including speech therapy and plastic surgery for his face.

According to Florida Highway Patrol reports, careless driving caused a one-car wreck shortly before 5 a.m. Monday, June 19, on U.S. 41, south of Island Park Road, in San Carlos Park.

Troopers said a 2002 Toyota pickup was traveling south on U.S. 41, when the driver, Quintana, of 15020 Maple Tree Drive in East Naples, lost control. The vehicle’s undercarriage struck the curb, and Quintana over-corrected while trying to re-enter the southbound lanes, police reports say.

The truck then traveled across the southbound lanes while rotating counter-clockwise, causing it to overturn, reports stated. The truck went across the raised median and all three northbound lanes while continuing to overturn, until it landed on its left side, partially trapping the driver.

Quintana was partially ejected and trapped under the truck.

Three other passengers were injured in the crash and transported to Lee Memorial Hospital.

Both rear passengers — Brittany M. Downie, 17, of Naples, and Oseas Y. Ardon, 18, of Naples — were ejected from the vehicle onto the pavement. Ardon was pronounced dead at the scene.

The truck’s front seat passenger, Angelina P. Zappa, of East Naples, suffered minor injuries.

Monday’s crash is being investigated by the FHP’s homicide unit. It is not yet determined whether Quintana will face charges. Any pending charges would not be issued until Quintana is released from the hospital, officials said.

Donations for medical-expenses assistance for the family can be sent to Rolando M. Quintana Jr. trust fund account at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union.