On July 28, 2020, Brett Pelham was sentenced to 15 years in the Department of Corrections for Vehicular Homicide stemming from a fatal traffic crash that occurred on October 25, 2018 at the intersection of Nelson Road and Diplomat Parkway W. Pelham has been in custody since his arrest on 24 February, 2019.
Pelham pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide and Driving Without a Driver’s License Causing Death on January 30, 2020, as part of a plea agreement. On July 28 2020, the charge for No Driver’s License Causing Death was reduced to Driving with No Driver’s License after defense motion that the original two charges represented double jeopardy.
The original press release is included below.
DATE: October 25, 2018
TIME: 8:28 AM
LOCATION: Diplomat Parkway W/Nelson Road
CR#: 18-020632
ASSIGNED THI: Officer D. Gray
VEHICLE 1: Beige 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, Florida tag.
DRIVER 1: Brett Dwight Pelham, W/M, 05/02/2002.
DRIVER 1 INJURIES: Pelham suffered serious injuries in the crash.
VEHICLE 1 PASSENGER 1: Morgan Amanda Skau, W/F, Bokeelia, FL.
VEHICLE 1 PASSENGER 1 INJURIES: Skau suffered serious injury in the crash.
VEHICLE 1 PASSENGER 2: Anthony Celia, W/M, Cape Coral, FL.
VEHICLE 1 PASSENGER 2 INJURIES: Celia suffered serious injury in the crash.
VEHICLE 2: White 2018 Toyota Corolla four door car, Florida tag.
DRIVER 2: Jill Marie Mandeville, W/Fl, FL.
DRIVER 2 INJURIES: Mandeville suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
SYNOPSIS:
Vehicle 1 was traveling west on Diplomat Parkway W, approaching the intersection with Nelson Road N, in the outside lane. Vehicle 2 was traveling south on Nelson Road N, approaching the intersection with Diplomat Parkway W, and in the inside lane and at a high speed. Vehicle 2 stopped at the stop sign and then began to proceed south across the intersection. Vehicle 1 failed to stop at the stop sign and skidded into the intersection. The front of Vehicle 1 collided with the driver’s door of Vehicle 2. The impact with Vehicle 1 forced Vehicle 2 west for approximately 90 feet where it came to final rest facing to the southwest across both westbound lanes of Diplomat Parkway. After the impact, Vehicle 1 continued traveling to the west along Diplomat Parkway while rotating nearly 180 degrees. Vehicle 1 came to final rest facing to the Southeast in the westbound outside lane of Diplomat Parkway.
The driver of Vehicle 2 suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The driver and passengers of Vehicle 1 suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, and all were transported by ambulance to Lee Memorial Hospital. None of the occupants in Vehicle 1 were wearing seatbelts. The driver of Vehicle 1 does not have a driver’s license. The investigation is on-going and charges are pending.
THI Ofc D. Gray and DRE H. Esterle responded. CCPD Forensic Technician L. Lansky and VA C. Seymour also responded.
Alcohol/drugs ARE a factor in the traffic crash. Next-of-kin HAVE BEEN notified.
This was a great job by the Cape Coral Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Investigators that led to a thorough investigation that resulted in a 15 year sentence.
