Burnt Store Road has reopened after a devastating crash that claimed three lives near Sand Road late Monday night. But for one Cape Coral resident who rushed to help, the haunting memory of what he witnessed will stay with him forever.
Bryan Greenwell, who lives nearby, said he initially thought a car had struck his house when he heard a loud impact. Stepping outside, he was met with an eerie silence on the normally busy two-lane road — a silence that told him something was terribly wrong.
As he drove toward the scene, Greenwell discovered a horrific three-vehicle crash near Janis Road. He immediately ran to check on the victims. Inside one mangled car, he found a husband and wife — motionless but still connected in their final moments.
“The car was almost on its side,” Greenwell recalled. “She looked like she was reaching for him, and he was holding her hand.”
Cape Coral Police later identified the couple as Norma Jean Ralston and Gary Galiher. Also killed in the collision was 48-year-old Laura Beasley, described by loved ones as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Authorities have not released further details about what caused the crash, but the investigation remains ongoing.
For Greenwell, the heartbreaking scene underscored both the fragility of life and the enduring bond of love. “Even in that tragedy,” he said softly, “they were together holding hands.”
