5 teens killed when car crashed, submerged into Florida pond

June 27, 2023

A group of Florida teenagers who worked at the same steakhouse were killed overnight Sunday when the car they were in ran off the road and plunged into a retention pond, authorities said.

Three men and two women, ages 18 and 19, were found dead in the black Kia sedan after the vehicle was pulled out of the body of water next to Interstate 75 Monday morning, authorities said, according to reports.

“It took a long time to get (that car) out,” Fort Myers Police Department spokesperson Kristin Capuzzi said, according to the News-Press.

Four of the teens were identified as Amanda Ferguson, Eric Cox, Breanna Coleman and Jackson Eyre, according to reports.

The four worked together at the Fort Myers Texas Roadhouse, which was closed Monday.

The fifth victim has not been identified.

It is not believed that the unidentified victim worked at the restaurant.

Eyre, who just graduated from high school in South Fort Myers, had his sights set on Fort Myers Technical College this fall, the News-Press reported.

Five teenagers died in Florida when the car they were riding in went off the road and into a retention pond in Fort Myers.

The black Kia sedan the teens were driving in. — The teens were driving in the black Kia sedan seen above.

The victim’s father, Willie Eyre, is a former major league relief pitcher and the coach of the high school baseball team, according to the newspaper.

“Jackson embraced so many people and now we need to embrace his memory,” the baseball team reportedly wrote in an Instagram caption.

“Anytime someone passes, we lose a little bit of who we are. It hurts even more when it’s one of our own. We ask everyone in the community to pray for his family & friends, as we get through this impossibly difficult time together.”

Amanda Ferguson was identified as one of the victims. Four of the five teens worked at the same Texas Roadhouse restaurant.

Jackson Eyre had just graduated from high school and planned to attend Fort Myers Technical College.

Eric Cox had plans to become a firefighter, according to his father.

Breanna Coleman was also identified as a victim. — Breanna Coleman was also identified as one of the victims killed.

Cox, 19, also just graduated from high school and had plans to be a firefighter, his father said, according to NBC 2.

A makeshift memorial was created in front of Texas Roadhouse with its flags at half-staff, WINK reported.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of four of our Roadies,” the business wrote in a Facebook post. “Our team is grieving alongside their families and friends. We appreciate the support of our Ft. Myers community during this difficult time.”