LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol has identified 42-year-old Garry Joseph as the driver responsible for a devastating crash in Lehigh Acres that left one woman dead and three others severely injured—among them a 2-year-old child in a stroller. Joseph is now facing a long list of felony charges, including DUI manslaughter, after troopers say he sped down the wrong lane and plowed into a family walking along the roadway.
According to FHP, Joseph was traveling west on Douglas Lane in the eastbound lane at high speed when he struck two women, a man, and a 2-year-old girl who were walking in the same lane. The impact was so violent that all four were thrown to the ground as Joseph continued driving, crossing a driveway and crashing through several residential yards before the vehicle came to a stop.
Troopers say Joseph then ran away on foot, leaving the victims behind. He was later found and taken into custody.
One of the pedestrians, 27-year-old Resa Unwritten, died at the scene despite emergency efforts. A second 27-year-old woman and a 2-year-old child suffered critical, life-threatening injuries, while a 31-year-old man sustained serious injuries. All four victims are residents of Lehigh Acres.
Joseph is now charged with:
- DUI Manslaughter
- Leaving the scene of a crash involving death
- Three counts of leaving the scene with serious injury
He has been booked into the Lee County Jail.
The crash occurred near Douglas Lane and Harold Avenue, a normally quiet residential area now shaken by grief and disbelief. Authorities say alcohol played a role in the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.
FHP is urging drivers to use extreme caution, reminding the public that tragedies like this are entirely preventable.
