Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies were contacted by 56-year-old Stephen Preslospsky of Brickell Court, Orlando, who advised that he hit something with his tractor trailer around 4:01 am this morning, near the Hospital in Haines City.
Preslospsky told deputies he was traveling south on Highway 27 and thought he had hit some sort of object. When Preslospsky heard of the incident on local news broadcasts, he immediately contacted the PCSO.
Preslospsky’s 1999 Freightliner Tractor had damage consistent with the evidence from the scene. He is co-operating with the investigation.
A witness to the incident, 51-year-old Ronnie Ken Murdaugh, of Lexington, South Carolina, observed a man running west across Highway 27 from what appeared to be a Publix parking lot. Murdaugh saw the victim run into the direct path of Preslospsky, but did not witness the impact.
Deputies found 51-year-old Willie Don Surles, of Palm Avenue, Haines City, deceased alongside Highway 27 at Massee Road.
The investigation is on-going.
