Fort Myers man pleads to judge for fatal Estero crash that reached over 100 mph
This week, a Fort Myers man learned his fate in a crash near the Estero mall that killed a man leaving work, even reaching speeds of 100 mph just minutes before the crash.
Lee Circuit Judge Andrew Marcus on Oct. 13 sentenced Corey Matthew Sherman, 31, to 10 years in prison for the crash that killed Diego Delgado Garcia on Jan. 27, 2024. Delgado Garcia’s age and hometown were unknown according to the publication.
The State Attorney’s Office announced in a press release that Sherman entered a plea to the court and that this was not a plea agreement.
“Any defendant may waive his right to a jury trial and apply directly to the court for sentencing,” the statement read in part. The statement was included. Sherman faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
According to court documents, authorities responded to Via Coconut Point near Via Sicilia Road in Estero around 11 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2024.
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The report states that “the environment was extremely dark and no artificial lighting was provided.” Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported seeing tire tracks on the road as well as a scrape mark, followed by broken glass and car parts.
Authorities reported significant damage to the left side of Delgado Garcia’s car and found Delgado Garcia leaning forward in the driver’s seat with his chest against the steering wheel.
The impact caused Delgado Garcia’s airbag to deploy. “The seat belt had been cut and was hanging outside the vehicle,” part of the report states.
The report states that Sherman’s car stopped about a mile from the crash scene.
A witness told authorities that he was Sherman’s co-worker, that they had both left work minutes earlier, and that Sherman began “pulling away.”
According to the witness, Sherman was driving in the left lane and Delgado Garcia was driving in the right lane. The witness told authorities he saw Sherman drive down the right lane “before he went airborne.”
When authorities spoke with Sherman, he told them he had just gotten off work at a nearby restaurant and was going home. He added that he wanted to get into the right lane to turn right at the next intersection.
Sherman told authorities he did not see Delgado Garcia’s car and was traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour. The speed limit on the road is 40 mph.
Security footage from the nearby Target store shows Delgado Garcia’s tail lights were on when Sherman struck him from behind.
The report says about Sherman’s car, “After the accident, it stopped much further north because its brakes did not work.”
Seconds before the crash, Sherman’s car registered speeds of 121 and 124 mph, according to the arrest affidavit.
The report states that the car slowed to 170 km/h when Sherman applied the brakes just before the crash. Due to the age of Delgado Garcia’s car, they were unable to determine Delgado Garcia’s speed.
Authorities also reviewed the 911 call Sherman made the night of the crash. According to the arrest affidavit, Sherman stated that he was “driving really slow” in front of Delgado Garcia and rear-ended the car.
“He appeared very shaken and concerned,” the arrest affidavit said of Sherman.
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 @tomasfrobeltraninstagram @tomasfrobeltranFacebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article first appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers man sentenced to prison for fatal crash in Coconut Point
