A Lakeland man was tragically killed yesterday morning after an attempt to mount a moving dump truck ended fatally, local authorities reported. The Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that witnesses saw the 56-year-old man, known as a transient in the area, running through traffic and waving his arms before he approached the vehicle near the intersection of Reynolds Road and Highway 92 East, according to WFLA. As the truck began to pull away from a stop at a traffic light, the man made an attempt to climb the step to the passenger side but fell and suffered fatal injuries as the vehicle ran over him.
Following the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m., the eastbound lanes of Highway 92 were closed for several hours, which caused significant traffic disruptions. The Polk County Sheriff's office urged drivers to seek alternate routes and avoid the area as their deputies and firefighters, alongside traffic homicide detectives, worked on the scene of the fatal crash, as reported by ClickOrlando. At this time, officials are continuing the investigation into the exact causes and circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Witnesses reported the man's erratic behavior and his final attempt to board the dump truck to 911 dispatchers, providing crucial insights into the leadup to the fatal accident. "The man attempted to climb up the passenger side running board of a dump truck as it began to accelerate after being stopped at a red light when he fell and was run over," deputies were quoted in a report from WTSP.
The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin, and information about the driver of the dump truck and any potential charges has not been shared. The Sheriff's Office has not provided further details as their investigative process unfolds.
