Two children killed in Cape Coral canal crash, family confirms

CAPE CORAL, Fla .– Two children were killed after a car crashed into a canal and was submerged underwater on Wednesday evening, family members said.

A child, Titus Lawson, 7, died at the scene. The other child, John Wayne Lawson, 10, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The children’s aunt, Scarlett Lawson, confirmed that John Wayne died at 1:15 a.m. on Friday morning.

Cape Coral Police said the car was traveling eastbound on NE 31st Street as it approached the NE 5th Place intersection. It was then that the car continued through empty land and struck the raised bank of the canal, causing it to fly through the air and crash into the canal.

First responders rushed to the scene just before midnight and found the car submerged in the canal with the two children trapped inside, Cape Coral police said.

Cape Coral Police said the two adults, Kenneth Lawson and Julia Drudy, who were also in the car when it crashed, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Cape Coral Police have confirmed alcohol and drugs were a factor in this crash and it was a criminal investigation with pending charges.

Early on Thanksgiving morning, dive crews and detectives were spotted in the channel to investigate. The crashed car appears to be white with a “Royal Maid Service” logo on the side.

One of the adults in the car is a parent of the children. No other car was involved in this accident.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information can contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223 or submit an anonymous tip here.