Routine maintenance on a 2008 Porsche Boxster took an unusual turn Thursday, when a Sanibel mechanic took the car on a wild test drive, reaching an estimated 163 mph, and crashed it.
Kenneth Kasten, 50, owner of the Sanibel Shell service station, was driving the Porsche on McGregor Boulevard near Punta Rassa Road at 6 a.m. when he lost control and flipped the car into some mangroves, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Porsche - owned by Nanelle Wehmann of Sanibel - was the only vehicle involved in the crash, which occurred in a 55-mph limit zone.
The FHP estimated the damage to the Porsche at $50,000.
Kasten wasn't seriously injured and left the scene before emergency crews arrived, Cpl. George Kantor of the FHP said. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.
Authorities arrived on scene to find the car smashed, abandoned and upside down.
Initial reports were that the car was stolen, but Kantor said it quickly became clear that Kasten had permission to drive the car.
Wehmann said she has been bringing her vehicles to the Sanibel Shell for years and was surprised to learn about the crash.
"I'm just thankful he wasn't hurt," she said.
Kantor said because Wehmann knew Kasten would drive the car, Kasten wasn't charged with theft.
Kasten was found a few hours after the crash hiding in a nearby parking lot and was given a notice to appear in court on charges of willful and wanton reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash.
Fort Myers attorney Sean O'Halloran said first offenders on such charges could face a combined maximum penalty of $1,000 and 150 days in jail.
"Any sentence will consider a prior criminal history," said O'Halloran, who is not involved in this case.
Kasten has had seven moving violations since 2000, according to the Lee County Clerk of Court.
Kantor said Kasten admitted to speeding.
"I told him how fast we determined he was going, and he said that was about right," Kantor said.
Kantor said Kasten told him he was speeding because he was upset, but Kantor didn't specify why Kasten was upset.
A call to the service station to reach Kasten was met with a "no comment" and a hang-up.
Wehmann said she doesn't hold any ill will toward Kasten or his business.
"He's a good guy," she said. "It was just an unfortunate accident."
And Wehmann is still willing to bring her vehicles back to the station.
"I have no reason to think I wouldn't," she said. "It's a well-respected place."
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