Tragedy struck early Thursday morning in Lakeland where a pedestrian was struck and fatally injured by a box truck, as reported by local authorities. The Polk County Sheriff's Office disclosed, in a report by FOX 13 News, that the incident occurred shortly before 3:45 a.m. on Combee Road.
The victim, a man whose last recorded address was in Orlando, was walking along the northbound lane when the collision happened. According to The Ledger, he was dressed in a black shirt, and black pants at the time of the accident. The truck, preparing to make a turn onto Main Street, struck the pedestrian resulting in traumatic head injuries which later proved fatal at a local hospital.
The driver of the box truck stayed on the scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation, as detailed by reports. The road was closed to traffic for about three hours to enable an in-depth examination of the scene by law enforcement. As it stands, no charges have been filed against the driver, and, as Tampa Free Press mentioned, authorities do not anticipate that any will be.
While the investigation remains active, law enforcement has been working to notify the victim's next of kin. The identity of the man, however, has yet not been made public pending this notification. The surrounding community has been left disturbed by the incident, a stark reminder of the ever-present risks pedestrians face on the roads.
