State prosecutors are asking that a judge hold a Fort Myers man without bond in a DUI crash that killed a woman while she walked her dog over the weekend.
Rodrigo Coutinho Pereira, 27, faces charges of DUI; DUI manslaughter; DUI causing property damage; and driving while his license was suspended causing death or serious injury.
Cape Coral Police said in a news release that officers responded about 9 p.m. Sept. 28 to a crash involving a pedestrian at Tower Drive and Santa Rosa Court.
Police said the pedestrian, who they did not identify, did not appear to breathe but had a faint pulse. The pedestrian died shortly after at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers.
Investigators determined Pereira was driving on Tower Drive, approaching Santa Rosa Court and hit the pedestrian, who was walking her dog west on Tower Drive in the eastbound lane.
Authorities said Pereira remained on scene and added that investigators saw an open Bud Light aluminum bottle in the center cup holder through the open driver’s door.
A witness who was walking with the victim said they were walking their dog and were using a flashlight.
Police said Pereira agreed to participate in sobriety tests, but refused to provide a breath sample after he failed the sobriety test. Authorities said they detected alcohol on his breath and that he had slurred speech.
Authorities said the investigation also revealed Pereira’s license was suspended for DUI effective May 4.
Police report this is the 14th traffic fatality in the city this year. Three of the fatalities are DUI-related.
Court records show that on Sept. 29, Assistant State Attorney Martin Stark filed a motion for pretrial detention, seeking that Pereira remain in custody without bond until his trial. A hearing was not set by publication.
Pereira’s arraignment is Oct. 27.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers man arrested after fatal Cape Coral crash, state seeks no bond
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
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