A Fort Myers man this week learned his fate in a crash that killed a man leaving work that reached highway speeds near an Estero mall and even broke 100 mph moments before the crash.
Lee Circuit Judge Andrew Marcus on Oct. 13 sentenced Corey Matthew Sherman, 31, to 10 years in prison for the Jan. 27, 2024, crash that killed Diego Delgado Garcia. Delgado Garcia’s age and hometown remained unknown by publication.
In a news release, the State Attorney’s Office explained that Sherman made a plea to the court, which is not a plea agreement.
“Each defendant can give up their right to a jury trial and plea directly to the court for sentencing,” the release read in part. Sherman faced a maximum of 15 years in prison.
According to court documents, authorities responded to Via Coconut Point, near Via Sicilia Way, in Estero, about 11 p.m. Jan. 27, 2024.
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The report states that “it was extremely dark, and there was no provided artificial lighting.” On the road, Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported they saw a scrape mark, as well as tire marks, followed by broken glass and car parts.
Authorities reported significant damage to the left side of Delgado Garcia’s car and found Delgado Garcia in the driver’s seat, slumped forward with his chest resting against the steering wheel.
The impact caused Delgado Garcia’s airbag to deploy. His “seatbelt had been cut, and was dangling outside the vehicle,” the report reads in part.
Sherman’s car came to a rest nearly a mile away from the crash site, the report indicates.
A witness told authorities he was a co-worker of Sherman, that they both left work just minutes before and that Sherman began to “pull away.”
According to the witness, Sherman was driving in the left lane, while Delgado Garcia was in the right lane. The witness told authorities he saw Sherman move into the right lane “before going airborne.”
When authorities spoke with Sherman, he told them he had left work at a nearby restaurant and was heading home. He added that he wanted to get in the right lane to turn right at the next intersection.
Sherman told authorities he did not see Delgado Garcia’s car and that he was traveling about 60 mph. The speed limit on the road is 40 mph.
Security footage from the nearby Target store indicated Delgado Garcia’s taillights were illuminated when Sherman rear-ended him.
“After the crash, he coasted to a stop much further north because his brakes weren’t working,” the report reads concerning Sherman’s car.
Seconds before the crash, Sherman’s car recorded speeds of 121 and 124 mph, according to his arrest affidavit.
When Sherman applied the brakes just before impact, the car slowed to 108 mph, the report says. Due to the age of Delgado Garcia’s car, they could not determine Delgado Garcia’s speed.
Authorities also reviewed a 911 call Sherman made the night of the crash. According to his arrest affidavit, Sherman stated Delgado Garcia “was traveling really slow” ahead of him and that he rear-ended the car.
“He sounded very shook up and concerned,” the arrest affidavit said of Sherman.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers man sentenced for fatal Coconut Point crash
