CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Three people lost their lives late Monday night in a devastating three-vehicle collision on Burnt Store Road near Sand Road, leaving behind a scene that one witness described as “something he’ll never forget.”
According to the Cape Coral Police Department, the crash occurred just before midnight near Janis Road, prompting a full shutdown of Burnt Store Road for several hours. The victims have been identified as Norma Jean Ralston, Gary Galiher, and Laura Beasley, 48, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the deadly crash.
One nearby resident, Bryan Greenwell, said he was at home when he heard a loud impact that shook his house. Thinking a vehicle had struck his property, he ran outside and was met with silence — an unsettling stillness on the normally busy road. As he drove toward the noise, he came upon the wreckage and was among the first to respond.
Greenwell described the haunting scene in heartbreaking detail. Inside one of the mangled vehicles, he found a man and woman — later identified as Ralston and Galiher — still holding hands despite their injuries. “The car was almost on its side,” he said. “She looked like she was reaching for him, and he was holding her hand.”
The third victim, Laura Beasley, has been remembered by family and friends as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who brought joy to everyone around her. News of the accident has left the community in mourning, with loved ones gathering to share memories and prayers for the victims.
Investigators have not yet released details about what caused the crash, but the Cape Coral Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit continues to examine evidence from the scene. As officers work to piece together what happened, residents like Greenwell are left reflecting on the fragility of life and the love that endures even in tragedy. “Even in that moment,” he said softly, “they were together — holding hands.”