Reysis Hernández, Mel Viera Obituary, Death – Two of the four young adults who tragically lost their lives in a three-vehicle crash in Lehigh Acres, as Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s west coast, are being remembered as lifelong friends. Reysis Hernández, 22, and Mel Viera, 23, had known each other since their childhood in Cuba before moving to Southwest Florida.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Ellimay Hernández has identified the two victims. In addition to Reysis and Mel, a 25-year-old man from Palm Springs, Florida, and a 24-year-old man from Cape Coral also perished in the accident. A 20-year-old woman from Cape Coral survived but is in critical condition.
During a brief phone call on Monday, Ellimay Hernández mentioned that the families of the victims are not yet prepared to speak publicly about their loss. The fundraiser highlights that Reysis and Mel were well-known and beloved members of their hometown, Bejucal, located about 26 miles south of Havana.
The fundraiser states, “The parents of Reysis Hernández and Viera are going through a hard time and financial hardships as they arrange the young adults’ funerals.” The GoFundMe campaign has successfully surpassed its initial goal of $11,000.
The crash occurred just after 11:40 a.m. on October 6, along Lee Boulevard near Lee Street in Lehigh Acres, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. According to the incident report, Hernández, Viera, and the other passengers were traveling in a sedan in the inside lane of Lee Boulevard, heading west.
While driving, Viera, who was behind the wheel, failed to navigate a right curve, causing the car to jump over the raised median and enter the eastbound lanes of Lee Boulevard. The front of their vehicle collided head-on with another car occupied by two individuals traveling east.
The impact of the collision redirected the second vehicle, causing it to strike the front-left side of a third car. The 20-year-old woman from Cape Coral, a backseat passenger in Viera’s car, was transported to Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where she remains in critical condition.
The driver of the first vehicle that Viera collided with, a 53-year-old man, along with a 36-year-old male passenger, sustained serious injuries and were also taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center for treatment. Meanwhile, the driver of the third car, a 23-year-old man from Cape Coral, suffered minor injuries and was taken to Lehigh Regional Medical Center.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the community mourns the loss of Reysis Hernández and Mel Viera, cherishing their memories as they support the families in their time of need.