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Investigation shuts down Matanzas Bridge

Posted at 7:54 AM, Feb 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-26 08:34:17-05

The Matanzas bridge that connects to Fort Myers Beach is closed and could remain closed for several more hours as the Lee County Sheriff's Office investigates an incident on the bridge early Sunday morning.

The Sheriff's Office says the investigation has closed all eastbound and westbound lanes of the Matanzas bridge and the general public should avoid the area and seek an alternate route.

Those trying to cross the bridge are stuck in traffic as multiple Lee Sheriff's Office vehicles are clustered on the bridge around a vehicle.  

A witness tells Fox 4 he was coming up the Fort Myers beach bridge heading to the beach around 4:30 a.m. when he saw two deputy squad cars chasing another car coming from the other direction.  He says he saw one squad car perform a maneuver to turn the suspect vehicle sideways as it crashed into the concrete barrier on the bridge at the top of the span.  The witness said he saw a second squad car then crash into the initial squad car.  The wreckage blocked the bridge and the witness turned around.  It's unclear why the deputies were chasing the vehicle and we don't know if anyone was hurt.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office has not confirmed the witness account of what happened, but we have a crew working to get more information and will pass along any details as we get them.  

 

 

It's unclear why the deputies were chasing the vehicle and we don't know if anyone was hurt.