Reysis Hernández,Mel Viera Obituary, Death; – Two of the four young adults who lost their lives in a three-vehicle accident in Lehigh Acres, coinciding with the approach of Hurricane Milton towards Florida’s west coast, are fondly remembered as lifelong friends who had known each other prior to their migration from Cuba to Southwest Florida.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Ellimay Hernández has identified the deceased individuals as Reysis Hernández, aged 22, and Mel Viera, aged 23. The other victims include a 25-year-old man from Palm Springs, Florida, and a 24-year-old man from Cape Coral, while a 20-year-old woman from Cape Coral remains in critical condition following the incident.
In a brief phone conversation on Monday, Ellimay Hernández indicated that the families are not yet prepared to make public statements. The fundraiser highlights that Hernández and Viera were well-known and cherished members of their local community in Bejucal, located approximately 26 miles south of Havana.
The parents of Reysis Hernández and Viera are facing significant emotional and financial challenges as they make arrangements for the funerals of their children, as noted in the Spanish-language portion of the fundraiser. The GoFundMe campaign has successfully surpassed its initial goal of $11,000.
The accident occurred shortly after 11:40 a.m. on October 6 along Lee Boulevard, near Lee Street, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to law enforcement, Hernández, Viera, and the other three passengers were traveling westbound in a sedan in the inside lane of Lee Boulevard, east of Lee Street.
The driver, Viera, was unable to navigate a right curve, resulting in the vehicle crossing over the raised median and entering the eastbound lanes of Lee Boulevard. The front of their vehicle collided head-on with another car that was occupied by two individuals traveling east. The force of the impact caused the second vehicle to veer, leading to a collision with the front-left side of a third vehicle.
The 20-year-old woman from Cape Coral, who was seated in the back of Viera’s car, was transported to Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where she remains in critical condition. A 53-year-old man was driving the first vehicle that Viera collided with.
