Truck Driver Dies At Birchwood and SR80 Port LaBelle Crash

LABELLE, FL -- Passenger Vehicle / Dump Truck crash occurred on 5/23/24 at 7:05 a.m. on State Road 80, Hendry County. Post collision, the dump truck overturned, the dump truck driver was ejected and pronounced deceased on scene. The crash remains under investigation.

From the FHP crash report

Vehicle 1 (SUV) driven by an 18-year old male from LaBelle was traveling north on Birchwood Parkway, at the intersection with State Road 80. He was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries

Vehicle 2 (dump truck) driven by 58 year old male from Lehigh Acres, was traveling west on State Road 80, on the outside westbound lane. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Vehicle 1 failed to yield for approaching traffic from the stop sign, and traveled into the direct path of Vehicle 2.

The front right portion of Vehicle 2 collided with the right side of Vehicle 1.

Post collision, Vehicle 2 continued traveling west, rotated and overturned onto the north grass shoulder. Driver 2 was ejected and pronounced deceased on scene.

Birchwood Parkway and the intersection of SR80 and Birchwood is one of Hendry county's most dangerous roadways as motorists travel along Birchwood not paying attention to the curves and stop signs.

Previous crashes near SR80 and Birchwood.

Two Palm Trees Smashed In LaBelle SUV Crash

Two More Trees Hit On Crash-Prone Hendry Roadway

LABELLE, FL. -- On what might be the Hendry county highway with the most trees downed after being run over by cars or trucks, Birchwood Parkway in Port LaBelle was the scene of another costly crash this Sunday afternoon.

Trevor Ray, was driving a black late model GMC SUV that suffered major front end damage, with both air bags deployed and cracked wind shield, after driving over two palm trees on Birchwood Parkway near Springview Circle.

On the scene quickly at about 4:40 p.m. Sunday were Hendry EMS personnel and the fire department. A few minutes later a Sheriff's deputy arrived to write a report on yet another driver out of control on this rural roadway.

Over the last 8 years there have been at least 8 trees downed by careless drivers, and scores of thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs and medical bills incurred after tree/car crashes along this posted 25 m.p.h one-mile stretch of road north of State Road 80 and adjoining the Laurel Oaks subdivision.

A curve near State Road 80 intersection is usually a contributing factor as drivers either drive to fast or aren't paying attention heading into the curve.

Numerous calls have been made to the Hendry Road and Bridge Department suggesting additional warnings signs or speed signage on this road.

This afternoon's crash was an oddity, on a straight stretch of roadway with a speed limit of 25 m.p.h.  There is an open bar at the Port LaBelle Inn a mile away, perhaps another contributing factor for those who may have had a bit too much and choose to drink and drive.

Other Birchwood Tree/Car Crash Stories: 


http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2011/07/hendry-car-crash-tree-wins.html
http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2006/09/most-dangerous-25-mph-road-in-hendry.html
http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2007/09/clewiston-woman-injured-on-way-to.html
http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2005/12/clewiston-woman-dead-in-crash.html

Electric Out For Several Hours In Port LaBelle - Vehicle Crash Cause?

LABELLE, FL. -- The electric has gone out several times Monday for several hours total. It may be the result of someone hitting a light pole on Birchwood Parkway north of SR80. The pole is down and the spot where the pole was is full of water.

This location has been the site of many pole and tree vs. vehicle crashes in the last few years. We suspect the curve on Birchwood, when vehicles cross SR80 or turn from SR80. is unexpected when drivers are distracted or under the influence. 

Traveling either on SR80 or Birchwood south of 80 is a straight stretch of road for miles. Turning on to Birchwood north of 80, if traveling over the Birchwood mph speed limit, one may be surprised by the 45 degree turn suddenly appearing before the driver. There are no warning signs of the curve, only the 25 mph speed limit sign. Lots of trees and light poles are in the median just waiting for the wayward driver.

See lots of previous crash stories in this Birchwood area

Head On Crash With No Driver Injuries, Sabal Palm Dead, Aged 40

 

PORT LABELLE, FL. -- An early Sunday morning crash left a Toyota Hybrid Sedan disabled after crashing head on into a sabal palm tree. 

The crash occurred on Hendry County's Birchwood Parkway southbound, where over the years dozens of drivers have lost control or missed the slight curve as they approach State Road 80. There is a posted 25 mph speed limit at that location. 

As a result of careless driving, dozens of 40-year old palm trees have been hit in this half mile long stretch as drivers attempt to speed through the curve. 

A half mile north, in Glades county, the speed limit is higher at 35 mph. Most cars travel considerably over the speed limit in both Glades and Hendry county along Birchwood Parkway. 

Those traveling southbound are at risk if they don't slow their speed and then lose control on the curve.

The Hendry Sheriff's office says there were no injuries to the driver. The 40 year old palm tree was killed however.

Other Birchwood Parkway Crashes At Same Location:

https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2019/03/critically-injured-passenger-in-port.html

https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2015/11/rolande-alcina-seriously-injured-in.html

https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2011/09/two-palms-tree-smashed-in-labelle-suv.html

https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2011/07/hendry-car-crash-tree-wins.html

https://swflorida.blogspot.com/2006/09/most-dangerous-25-mph-road-in-hendry.html

Canadian Michael Stockton Dead In Port LaBelle Plane Crash

PORT LABELLE, FL. -- At approximately 3:20 pm, this afternoon Hendry County Sheriffs Telecommunication Center received a report of a plane crash.

Hendry County First Responders arrived on scene to find a twin engine Piper Aerostar 600 crashed, approximately 40 yards from the Good Shepard Episcopal Church on Collingwood Parkway in Port LaBelle.

Two individuals were found aboard the plane, one later found to be deceased. The other person was transported for medical care.

The LaBelle Municipal Airport is about 3 miles southwest of the crash site.  On the airport is Mullen's Aviation, LLC, a company owned by James J. Mullen, specializing in Piper Aerostar maintenance. The company received a $26,250 government sponsored Payroll Protection loan last year to protect three jobs.

The crashed plane was registered in Canada. James Mullen, 63 was reportedly the injured person in the aircraft.

According to the FAA Pilot Registry James Jonathan Mullen has a current Commercial Pilot Certificate.

It is unknown at this time the cause of the crash and the FAA has been notified and will be responding to the scene.

Traffic was being rerouted east down SR80 to Birchwood Parkway to travel to homes in the Port LaBelle Unit 4 subdivision adjacent to the church.

UPDATE: Government investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board started looking at the crash scene Friday morning. It appears the plane clipped a tree on the southeast corner of the church property and then flying westerly, crashed into a clump of trees at the church's memorial garden.

Unrelated to the crash, a Piper Aerostar 601, one of several planes owned by Mullen was in Nassau, the Bahama Islands today having flown from LaBelle earlier in the week.

The last time an aviation death occurred in LaBelle was in April 2018 when a glider pilot crashed at the airport while being towed, after losing control of the glider, according to the NTSB final report.

UPDATE: Michael Stockton, 67 from Almonte, Ontario, Canada was the victim in the crash as announced Friday afternoon. The 1973 Aerostar aircraft was owned by Stockton who bought it in September 2019 after the Canadian Certificate of Registration had been cancelled in August 1994. He also owned a second smaller plane.

Jeep And Cadillac Crash On Highway

Crash In Construction Zone Totals Jeep

LABELLE, FL. -- A crash between a red Jeep Wrangler with a utility trailer carrying landscaping equipment and a white Cadillac left substantial damage to both vehicles at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at Birchwood Parkway and State Road 80 in Port LaBelle..

At 4:30 p.m. traffic was being routed off of SR80 through a church parking lot until the Florida Highway Patrol shows up to clear the scene.

An investigation is continuing as to the cause of the crash  SR80 in undergoing major construction, adding two extra lanes to the existing two. The crash location is a construction zone and barriers are set up for lane changes at this time.

(Video: 2-Car Crash On SR80)

Hendry Car Crash- Tree Wins

Man Hits Tree On Birchwood Parkway Curve

LABELLE, FL. -- A slight curve on Port LaBelle's Birchwood Parkway apparently took another victim Thursday morning. About 9:30 a.m. a red older model Mazda lost control and hit an oak tree in the median, crushing the car's front end badly.

Although the roadway is posted at 25 m.p.h. drivers on this stretch of road just north of State Road 80, frequently lose control in the slight curve in the roadway, ending up hitting one of the many palm and oak trees planted in the median.

This morning's crash left the car with a crushed front end, and resulted in several Hendry county deputies, several units from the fire department, EMS, and the two FHP patrol cars responding.

The unidentified male driver turned down treatment from EMS and presumably suffered no injuries. The crash is still under investigation and charges may be pending.

Complaints have been made to the Hendry Road and Bridge department over the years asking for a sign warning of the curve. There have been a dozen or so car vs. tree crashed in this 1/8 mile stretch of road.

(Video: Car vs. Tree Crash)

3 Vehicle Crash In LaBelle On SR80

 

LABELLE, FL. -- A three vehicle crash in Port LaBelle on State Road 80 at Birchwood Parkway left westbound traffic tied up for hours while the FHP, LaBelle Fire Rescue, and Hendry Sheriff's deputies sorted out the vehicles.

All three vehicles were substantially damaged and tow trucks were on hand to get one crashed truck upright after it rested on it's roof and was lodged in by an SUV.

The FHP is investigating the crash. 

Traffic is back to near normal, with the exception of Birchwood Parkway southbound traffic stalled at the intersection.

Photos by Don Browne

Rolande Alcina Seriously Injured In Crash

LABELLE, FL. -- Rolande Alcina, 59 of Port St. Lucie was seriously injured in a crash while riding as a passenger Tuesday afternoon at 2:19 p.m. in Hendry County.

A 2014 Hyundai Accent was southbound on Birchwood Parkway in Port LaBelle at the intersection of State Road 80.

A 2014 Honda Accent driven by Lasundra Scheibner, 45 of Loxahatchee was westbound on State Road 80 just east of Birchwood Parkway.

The driver of the Hyundai, Elmira Pierre, 62 of West Palm Beach failed to yield the right of way to the Honda as the Hyundai entered SR 80. As a result, the Hyundai was struck by the Honda.

Alcina was transported to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries. Pierre was cited for failure to yield right of way and had minor injuries and transported to Lehigh Regional Hospital.

Hendry County Crash Ties Up Traffic On SR80

 

PORT LABELLE, FL. -- A crash between a Chevrolet Camero and a loaded dump truck tied up traffic on State Road 80 at Birchwood Parkway this morning starting at 7:30.

It what may have been an attempt by the truck driver to avoid hitting a car heading westbound on SR-80, the resulting crash left the truck overturned and the car heavily damaged with an occupant transported by Hendry EMS. The truck driver seemed to be uninjured and was rescued from the truck cab by EMS and Fire Department personnel.

Westbound lanes are blocked this morning pending an FHP investigation and removal of the truck and it's dirt load from the highway.

Aerial Photos by Don Browne

Two Dead In SR80 Crash In Port LaBelle

LABELLE, FL. -- Two are dead in a crash Saturday at 7:40 p.m. in Hendry County. From the FHP report:

Vehicle 1 driven by a 61 year old male from LaBelle, with a 59 year old female passenger from LaBelle was stopped for a stop sign on northbound Birchwood Road at State Road 80. 

Vehicle 2, a pick up truck driven by a 36 year old male from Miami with a 35 year old male and 42 year old male from Miami was traveling west on State Road 

Vehicle 1 failed to yield to State Road 80 traffic. The front of Vehicle 2 collided with the right side of Vehicle 1.

Vehicle 1 rotated and came to rest on the north shoulder of State Road 80.

Driver 1 and Passenger were pronounced deceased on scene. Driver 2 and one passenger had minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Moore Haven Woman Dies In Port LaBelle Crash

LABELLE, FL. -- A 75-year old female from Moore Haven died Wednesday as a result of an 8:30 p.m. crash on SR80 at Birchwood Parkway. From the FHP report:

Vehicle 1, a sedan was traveling east on State Road 80. Driver 1 failed to maintain control Vehicle 1, traveled off the roadway right and entered the grass shoulder. Vehicle 1 collided with a speed limit sign, canal and trees. 

Driver 1 was pronounced deceased on scene, the crash remains under investigation.

Trucks Crash At SR80 And Birchwood Port LaBelle

LABELLE, FL. -- Two pickup trucks crashed at the corner of SR80 and Birchwood Parkway this afternoon. 

The FHP is investigating.

Photo credit: Mary Tyner

Robert Betcher Dies In Motorcycle Crash

LABELLE, FL. -- Robert Ryland Betcher, 46 of Melbourne Beach, Florida died in a motorcycle crash Sunday morning in Hendry county.

A 2002 Honda VT1100C motorcycle was eastbound on SR 80 east of Birchwood Parkway about 11:58 a.m in the outside lane. While maneuvering through a left curve Betcher ran off of the roadway to the right and continued to travel northeast on the grassy shoulder.

The motorcycle traveled approximately 605 feet before it overturned, causing the helmet and the left side of the cycle to collide with a culvert. The motorcycle continued to travel northeast approximately 30 feet and rotated counter-clockwise, then came to final rest on the east shoulder of SR-80, faced southwest.

Betcher was ejected from the cycle at the point of collision and traveled in a northeast direction approximately 61 feet and came to final rest on the east shoulder of SR-80. He was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.

Clewiston Woman Dead In Crash

LABELLE, FL. -- A 54-year old Clewiston resident died in a crash at
Birchwood Parkway and Cowboy Way in LaBelle Wednesday morning according to
FHP Cpl. Edward Finneran. Deborah Haywood of 1055 Panama Avenue in Pioneer
Plantation died at the scene when she failed to stop at the intersection
during heavy fog while driving a 2005 Dodge Stratus. She struck a vehicle
driven by 32-year old Reina Castellon of 6719 Santa Fe, LaBelle who was
carrying 20-year old Teresa Lernus. They both suffered minor injuries after
their Toyota 4 Runner overturned. Both were treated at Leigh Regional
Hospital.

Clewiston Woman Injured On Way To School

Port LaBelle's Dangerous Intersecton

LABELLE, FL. -- Keomi Williams, of Clewiston was reportedly injured when her tan Chevrolet Surburban overturned Thursday at 6 p.m. at the corner of Birchwood Parkway and Cowboy Way in Port LaBelle.

A second driver's condition is unknown at this time. A friend of the family at the crash scene said Williams was on her way to classes at the LaBelle High School, only a mile west of the accident scene.

A white Dodge Stratus apparently did not yield the right of way causing Williams to run into a ditch and overturn. The second car was substantially damaged in the crash. Williams' parents arrived at the scene shortly after the accident and were advised of her condition by Hendry county deputies. This intersection has been the scene of several recent serious crashes.

Critically Injured Passenger In Port LaBelle Crash

LABELLE, FL. -- Joseph Knotek, 52 of LaBelle was traveling south on Birchwood Parkway near S.R. 80 in a 2006 Ford E-250 truck at 3:35 p.m. Monday and failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the roadway to the right.

The truck overturned off road and came to final rest upright facing east.

Notification of next of kin is pending for the critically 27-year old injured passenger.

Knotek had minor injuries and the FHP is investigating whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the driver or passenger. Both were taken to Lee Memorial Hospital.

Charges are pending investigation.