Eduardo Falcone
Details have emerged regarding a motorcycle accident that occurred on the infamous "Tail of the Dragon" (U.S. 129) on May 20, which claimed the lives of two Florida residents.
Eduardo Falcone, 59 and 55-year-old Mariano Luis Maldonado – both of Fort Myers – both perished when the Harley Davidson "trike" (a three-wheeled motorcycle) Falcone was operating failed to properly navigate one of the Dragon's 318 curves.
Falcone reportedly hit an embankment and came to rest on the roadway, partly in the northbound lane.
The fatal accident took place near Mile Marker 5 and closed down the 11-mile stretch of roadway for several hours, as emergency personnel and members of the Tennessee State Highway Patrol responded.
Both were wearing helmets. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Blount County (Tenn.) Sheriff's Office reported that the accident is the first fatal crash on the Dragon in 2026. A total of 19 fatalities have occurred on the road since 2021, the sheriff's office said.
Reports gathered since the accident revealed that Maldonado was a chef and restauranteur in Fort Myers. He and his wife Rocio Navarrette opened El Gancho Inca in 2011, which has since morphed into a popular destination for lovers of Argentinian and Peruvian food. The couple also owned restaurants in North Naples and Estero, but sold their shares in all three establishments in recent years.
Maldonado stayed active by working as a consultant for the restaurants. In addition to Rocio, he is survived by three children: Julieta, Matias and Mariana; as well as two stepdaughters, Bonie and Michelle.
A GoFundMe to help offset funeral costs has been started for Falcone's surviving wife Sara and his son Ryan. As of May 28, $1,650 of the $9,000 goal had been raised.
Falcone's Facebook profile indicates that he worked as a sales manager for Bonita Springs Mitsubishi.
Maldonado and Falcone were cousins, according to Facebook tributes posted in their memory.