Report sheds details on deputy's fatal collision with teen cyclist

LEE COUNTY, FL -

We are uncovering new information about the death of a Cape Coral teenager who was fatally struck by a Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy's cruiser while riding his bike.

According to a newly released report detailing the full investigation, LCSO Deputy Douglas Hood was not driving in his lane, when his vehicle struck Austin Dukette, 15, on Kismet Parkway in Cape Coral in August.

The report shows the deputy was adjusting the brightness on his vehicle computer around the time he collided with Dukette.

Cape Coral Police Department's investigatory report reveals Lee County Deputy Douglas Hood was not watching the road moments before the collision that killed Dukette. Hood told investigators in the report that he was lowering the brightness of his laptop's computer screen.

When he looked back up - Hood said he tried to swerve out of the way, according to the report.

Residents are reacting to what happened.

"I think he needed to pull over and do that before - I mean it was too late after he had already ran the child over," said Robin McDuffie, who lives near the location of the crash.

Cape Coral police found that Hood was at fault along with these other details: He was not driving within his lane at the time of the crash; was not looking at the roadway as he was driving moments prior to the crash; and not driving in a careful manner.

As a result of those findings, Hood was cited with careless driving.

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Report sheds details on deputy's fatal collision with teen cyclist