State toll could be 24 with 3 latest deaths in North Fort My

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State toll could be 24 with 3 latest deaths in North Fort Myers


By ALISON KEPNER, akepner@news-press.com
Published by news-press.com on August 19, 2004


Lee County's death toll from Hurricane Charley may rise to five, and the state total to at least 24, with news of new storm-related deaths this morning.

An unidentfied man died early this morning in a home fire at 1319 River Road, in North Fort Myers, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Neighbors told investigators the resident was burning candles because the area remained without electricity.

The Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet officially named this death as hurricane-related, but two other North Fort Myers deaths have been blamed on the storm.

Donald Schaller, 74, was found dead in his home at 3405 Starline Drive Tuesday morning. He was last seen Sunday afternoon. His death is being blamed on heat-related stress.

Also in North Fort Myers, 81-year-old Asa Hosmer died Wednesday. He was working in his yard when he became overheated and came inside for a shower. He later began having heart pains, according to the sheriff’s office.

Two other Lee deaths already have been blamed on the hurricane. Danny Williams, 25, died when a banyan tree fell on him Friday outside his North Fort Myers home. Howard Jones, 56, of Pine Island was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in his home Saturday after he operated his gas-powered generator in an attached shed.

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Have you heard anything about the 17 year old boy who was struck by lightning while working on a roof in Port Charlotte? I heard it on the news Wednesday night, they said he wasn't doing well, but I haven't heard anything else about him.