LAKELAND, Fla. – Lakeland Police Department is investigating a crash that claimed the life of three people, including a 6 and 13-year-old.
On Monday, September 11, 2023, at approximately 7:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Kathleen Road for a traffic crash involving two vehicles. At the scene, officers located a 2015 red Cadillac SUV with five occupants collided with a 2016 black Dodge Challenger with one occupant.
The adult male driver and three juvenile passengers of the Cadillac were ejected from the vehicle. The Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene to begin life-saving measures.
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The right front passenger of the Cadillac, an adult female, was declared deceased at the scene. The remaining occupants of the Cadillac were transported to Lakeland Regional Health (LRH).
Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, two of the juvenile passengers were declared deceased a short time later by hospital staff. The driver of the Cadillac and the remaining passenger sustained critical injuries. The driver of the Challenger was transported to Tampa General Hospital and was reported in stable condition.
Based on information gathered thus far in the investigation, the Cadillac was traveling southbound on Kathleen Road and entered the left turn lane, preparing to turn left onto Quincy Street. At the same time, the Challenger was traveling northbound on Kathleen Road in the outside lane.
The driver of the Cadillac made a left turn, crossing the path of the Challenger when the crash occurred.
“Post impact the Cadillac rotated in a northeast direction and struck a utility pole where it came to rest. The Challenger came to final rest in a grassy area on the east side of the road just north of the Cadillac. It appears that the driver and juvenile passengers of the Cadillac and the driver of the Challenger were unrestrained at the time of the crash,” said police.
Members of the Traffic Homicide team responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately four hours while the scene was processed.
The crash remains an open investigation. Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Camillo Almeida at Camillo.almeida@lakelandgov.net.
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