A tragic accident claimed the life of a 36-year-old Tampa man early Saturday morning after his vehicle collided head-on with a semi-truck in Polk County. The grisly scene unfolded on U.S. Highway 98 North at Earnest Road around 3:16 a.m. when the Tampa man, driving a 2020 Chevy Silverado, attempted a traffic maneuver that ended fatally.
Reports from FOX 13 News indicate that the man was attempting to pass another southbound vehicle when he veered into the northbound lane, placing him directly in the path of the oncoming semi-truck. According to details provided by the authorities, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and Polk County Fire Rescue, the PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives discerned that, while the semi-truck was appropriately traveling north, the Silverado errantly entered that lane precipitating the collision.
Upon arrival at the scene, rescue teams found that the semi-truck's driver and his passenger were unscathed, a fact corroborated by officials and reported by WFLA. Sadly, however, the pickup truck’s driver died instantly as a result of the impact. The incident has raised concerns about the dangers of passing maneuvers on two-lane highways and the perils of impatience on the road.
The official investigation is still underway, and ABC Action News has not yet reported on potential factors like weather conditions or vehicle issues. The Polk County Sheriff's Office has not released further details.
