Five teenagers tragically lost their lives in a devastating car crash in Fort Myers, Florida. The incident occurred after their shift at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant. The car, a small black Kia sedan, was found submerged in a retention pond near Topgolf.
Despite efforts to rescue them, all five occupants were declared dead at the scene. The identity of the fifth person has not been publicly disclosed.
The Texas Roadhouse restaurant shared a heartfelt Snapchat post, honoring the memory of their four employees who lost their lives in the crash. The co-workers were identified as Amanda Ferguson, Eric Paul, Breanna Coleman, and Jackson Eyre. The fifth person’s name was not mentioned. Jackson Eyre, a recent graduate of South Fort Myers High School, had plans to attend Fort Myers Technical College in the fall. His mother, Rachel Eyre, expressed gratitude to Texas Roadhouse on Twitter for the thoughtful graduation gifts they had given her son.
Following the tragic news, a gathering of friends, family, and co-workers took place outside the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. Flowers were brought and placed near photos of the deceased employees. Travis Doster, the senior director of public relations at Texas Roadhouse, expressed deep sadness over the loss and thanked the Fort Myers community for their support during this difficult time. The restaurant remained closed to allow employees and families to come together, with counselors available for anyone in need of support.
Alan Hansen, the market partner for nine Texas Roadhouse locations in Florida, shared that all four employees had worked on Sunday. Although a couple of them finished their shifts early, they returned to pick up their friends and go out for fast food. The chain arranged for a grief counselor to support the friends and families of the victims and organized a dinner for them on Monday. Hansen described the four co-workers as leaders in the restaurant, emphasizing their dedication and exemplary behavior.
The Fort Myers Police Department is actively investigating the incident and will release the names of all the teenagers on Tuesday morning. Detectives are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has any information to come forward and contact the Fort Myers Police Department or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.