Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic Unit is investigating two separate, unrelated traffic crashes this holiday weekend, both of which resulted in fatalities.
The first crash occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 1, in Auburndale, and resulted in two fatalities and a critical injury:
A grey 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck being driven by 24-year-old Leighton Shane Hopper of 1507 West Lake Cannon Drive in Winter Haven was heading westbound on Havendale Blvd approaching the intersection with New Jersey Road, when it collided with a black 2006 Volkswagen Beetle being driven by 60-year-old Linda Hood Mercer of 607 Oak Street in Auburndale, which was heading southbound on New Jersey approaching the intersection of Havendale.
The two cars collided in the intersection, which has traffic control devices, investigators said. According to witnesses, it appears Hopper had a red light but went through the intersection anyway.
Hopper’s truck rolled one complete rotation and landed right side up. Hopper was wearing his seatbelt and was transported to Winter Haven Hospital with minor injuries. He was the only occupant of his vehicle.
Mercer’s car crossed three lanes of traffic and came to a rest facing south on the south shoulder of Havendale. She was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to LRMC with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Mercer’s passengers and their conditions are:
- 14-year-old Audrey Mercer of 607 Oak Street in Auburndale, seated in the front passenger seat, was wearing a seatbelt and did not have any significant injuries. She did not go to a hospital;
- 10-year-old Morgan Milligan of 4922 Malibu Drive in Lake Wales, who was seated behind the driver in the back seat was not wearing a seatbelt. She is deceased;
- 10-year-old Mikalia Rojas of 607 Oak Street in Auburndale, seated in the middle of the back seat, was not wearing a seatbelt. She is deceased;
- 8-year-old Maleah Rojas of 607 Oak Street in Auburndale, seated in the back seat behind the front seat passenger, was not wearing a seatbelt. She was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and is in very critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending. The roadway was closed until approximately 11:30 p.m.
The second crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 1, in Poinciana, and resulted in one fatality:
A black 2005 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck being driven by 40-year-old Julio Nunez of 565 Pinehurst CV in Kissimmee, was heading northbound on Marigold Avenue approaching the intersection with Palmetto Street when, for unknown reasons, he lost control and left the roadway. The truck re-entered the roadway and crossed over into the southbound lanes, colliding with a silver 2008 Hyundai Entourage being driven by 27-year-old Christian Garcia of 1439 Punta Gorda Drive in Poinciana, which was heading southbound on Marigold.
After the collision, Garcia’s vehicle came to a rest on the west shoulder. Nunez’s truck continued, hitting a pole, causing wires to snap and the pole to break. The truck overturned and Nunez was ejected. He was declared deceased on-scene. He was the only occupant in the truck. Impairment on Nunez’s part appears to be a factor, investigators said. The roadway was closed until approximately 3:30 a.m. on Monday, September 2, 2013.
There were four passengers in Garcia’s vehicle – an adult and three children, all from the same address as Garcia. All were properly restrained, and none received injuries.
