On Monday July 28, 2014 at 7:21 p.m., the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a call of singe vehicle crash located near 1112 Henry Avenue in Lehigh Acres. The complainant stated that a pickup truck had rolled over and the driver had sustained more than likely fatal injuries. Due the nature of the call, the Traffic Unit responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, deputies began the crash investigation and revealed the following facts: a 2006 Ford pickup truck was traveling Northbound on Henry Avenue with two occupants. The driver, Crystal Lynn Windham Cudney, 23, of 2021 Wells Avenue, Alva, FL and front seat passenger (the driver’s boyfriend), Brad Lee Gardner, 41, of 1519 Cumberland Court, Fort Myers, FL.
As The Ford was traveling Northbound on Henry Avenue, which is an unpaved gravel roadway, Cudney began to accelerate the Ford in attempts to show off to Gardner. While the Ford was accelerating the back tires lost grip on the gravel and the Ford began to fishtail all over the roadway.
The Ford then exited the roadway in a Northeast direction of travel. After exiting the roadway the Ford began to rotate due to a sloped culvert causing it to flip. The Ford continued to flip several times as it traveled over Henry Avenue in a Northwest direction.
As the Ford was flipping Cudney, who was restrained in her seatbelt, was partially ejected and this caused her to sustain fatal injuries. Cudney was pronounced deceased on scene by responding paramedics. Next of kin has been notified.
The investigations findings where confirmed by Gardner’s accounts and physical evidence collected at the scene. Gardner’s injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.