Punta Gorda Man Arrested after Truck Crashes into Playground

April 15, 2026

The Punta Gorda Police Department has arrested Nathan Faust III (29) of Punta Gorda after his vehicle crashed into a playground at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 1800 Shreve Street in Punta Gorda this morning. Faust arrived at the school to drop off two children, ages 2 and 3. Faust reportedly got out of the truck with the three-year-old child to take her into the school, leaving the two-year-old in the vehicle, restrained only by a seat belt. The vehicle began moving forward, traveled approximately 25 yards, went through a ditch and a fence, and ended up in the church playground area. Fortunately, there were no children on the playground at the time of the crash. Faust broke out a window in the vehicle and got the two-year-old child out of the truck. The two-year-old child was uninjured during the crash. Faust then drove the truck out of the playground, returned the two-year-old to the day care, and left the scene of the crash.

Faust was located shortly after the incident and charged with Neglect of a Child without Great Bodily Harm, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage. Faust was transported to the Charlotte County Jail, where he was incarcerated.