East Naples Hit-and-Run Kills Bicyclist; Driver Arrested After Vehicle Found at Apartment Complex

A quiet Sunday night in East Naples turned tragic when a bicyclist was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash along U.S. 41. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say the driver, 42-year-old Jelekzey Gamboa Thiele of Naples, was arrested hours later after leaving the scene.

According to investigators, the crash happened just before 9 p.m. near the intersection of Tamiami Trail East and Guilford Road. A 41-year-old man from North Port was attempting to ride east across the busy highway when he was hit by a northbound SUV. He died at the scene despite rapid response from emergency crews.

Witnesses told troopers the SUV did not stop. Detectives quickly fanned out, canvassing nearby neighborhoods. Before midnight, Collier County deputies located a damaged vehicle matching the description at an apartment complex only a few miles from the crash site. Troopers took Thiele into custody and charged him with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony.

The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of family members.

The fatal collision underscores long-standing concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety on U.S. 41, a wide, fast-moving corridor with limited protected crossings. Local advocates have repeatedly pushed for better lighting, improved crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures—calls that may grow louder after this latest tragedy.

Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation is ongoing, including a review of speed data, potential impairment, and additional witness statements. Anyone who saw the crash or the suspect vehicle is urged to contact FHP or Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.