Lakeland man killed in crash on SR 60

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a traffic accident that occurred around 5:45 this morning, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 2710 State Road 60 west of Bartow, involving a tractor-trailer and a Dodge Ram pickup .

The driver of a Peterbuilt semi pulled into the east parking lot of the Henry Company at this location last night and spent the night in his rig. This morning the employees of the enterprise woke him up and asked him to come to the western part of the enterprise to unload his tanker filled with mineral spirits. The driver pulled out of the parking lot and crossed the eastbound lane of SR 60 before using the center lane to make a U-turn to return to the westbound business parking lot. As he was turning across the eastbound lanes and entering the lot, a Dodge truck was eastbound on SR 60, driven by a 73-year-old Lakeland man who apparently did not notice the semi-trailer crossing the roadway. The Dodge went completely under the trailer and went off the other side, killing the driver instantly. He was the only resident. The semi driver was not injured.

The investigation is ongoing. The roadway in this area was closed for about four hours.