Ismael Jose Cruz was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 28 years in prison, for his conviction in a case involving an extremely serious crash he caused. The defendant was driving drunk, without a driver’s license, when he drove through a red light at a busy Fort Myers intersection, at a high rate of speed. Five people were injured, including two children.
The crash happened on September 7, 2025, at Michael G. Rippe Parkway and U.S. 41. On that day, the defendant drove his Mercedes Benz into a pick-up truck, driven by a father, who had his two sons, 9 and 8 years old with him. The impact was so severe, all three were seriously injured.
The youngest victim suffered extremely traumatic injuries that still impact him. The defendant and his passenger were also injured.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office did an extensive investigation in this case. The defendant had his blood alcohol level checked and had a .229, which is almost three times the legal limit of .08, at the time of the crash. This was the defendant’s first criminal or traffic offense.
The defendant was convicted in May. Assistant State Attorney Frank Lazzaro asked for a 28-year prison sentence and the defense asked for a minimum sentence under scoresheet guidelines, of 14 years. The Honorable Judge Andrew Marcus sentenced the defendant to what the State requested.
The defendant was sentenced on the charges as follows:
• Operating a Motor Vehicle Carelessly or Negligently Causing Serious Bodily Injury without Having a Driver’s License – 3rd Degree Felony– 14 years in prison
• Driving Under the Influence Causing Serious Bodily Injury -3rd Degree Felony – two counts – 14 years in prison on each count to run concurrently to each and consecutive to count one
• Driving Under the Influence Damage to Person – First Degree Misdemeanor- two counts – 1 year in prison on each count to run concurrently to all
Immediately following the crash, many witnesses rushed to the victims and helped them, until paramedics arrived minutes later. Those Good Samaritans are credited, along with the paramedics, law enforcement personnel, and medical staff at Lee Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital, with helping to save the lives of the victims, due to the traumatic injuries they suffered in the crash.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director