Family suing after man is critically hurt on Metro Parkway

Residents say new intersection needs a traffic signal

By Mike Mason

CREATED Oct. 26, 2012 - UPDATED: Oct. 26, 2012

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  • A Fort Myers attorney is taking legal action after a man is critically injured in an accident at the new Metro Parkway Extension. Four in your Corner's Mike Mason spoke with that attorney.....and joins us now with the latest. Video by fox4now.com

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LEE COUNTY - All new at 10 ... A Fort Myers attorney is taking legal action after a man is critically injured in an accident at the new Metro Parkway Extension. Four in your Corner's Mike Mason spoke with that attorney.....and joins us now with the latest.

 
David Vanaman is still in a coma after being critically injured in an accident on the new Metro Parkway Extension. His family wants officials to install a traffic signal before someone else gets hurt or even killed.
 
Some residents say it was just a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt at this busy intersection. This past Monday....less than 24 hours after opening the new Metro Parkway Extension it happened.
 
Randall Spivey: "It's a terrible, terrible accident."
 
56 year old David Vanaman crashed his scooter on metro at the intersection of Briarcliff Road after officers say an SUV pulled out in front of him. The injuries so severe -- he's now in a coma.
 
Randall Spivey: “He's still in critical condition unfortunately, he has brain damage, he has a fractured skull, he has multiple fractures on the left side of his body."
 
Fort Myers attorney Randall Spivey represents Vanaman's family. Today he filed a motion, notifying Lee County, DOT and the project's General Contractor....that the family intends to file a lawsuit.
 
Randall Spivey: "This clearly was an accident waiting to happen, they were warned by the residents on Briarcliff that opening this was going to be a very dangerous venture and they should not have done that."
 
Spivey is calling on officials to install a traffic signal on Metro before someone else gets hurt.....but officials say that could take time.
 
Debbie Tower -  DOT: "In December we're going to start taking a look at traffic patterns how the intersection operates as a completed job and as committed, during season, probably February or so, we ought to have information about a traffic signal."
 
That doesn't sit well with Vanaman's nine children. Just last week their father was working as a church pastor and driving a school bus for a living. Now he's fighting for his life at Lee Memorial Hospital.
 
Randall Spivey: "Today they did relieve a bolt from his head that was designed to release pressure from the brain so the family's taking it one day at a time.”
Officials say they need to evaluate driving patterns before deciding whether a traffic light is necessary.....but the Vanamans want one installed immediately.