A fatal crash in the early hours of Tuesday has led to the temporary closure of eastbound lanes on I-4 in Polk County, Florida. The single-vehicle incident, which claimed the life of the driver, occurred near the vicinity of mile marker 28 in Lakeland, as confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). WFLA reported that troopers were dispatched to the scene around 2:47 a.m.
For hours, the stretch of I-4 East was rendered impassable, causing significant traffic delays and reroutes for morning commuters. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), the crash was investigated, which necessitated the redirection of vehicles onto Memorial Boulevard. FOX 13 News stated that the eastbound side of I-4 was shut down for several hours following the accident.
Lanes have since been reopened, alleviating traffic congestion in the area. 10 Tampa Bay advises that all alerts regarding lane closures on I-4 East at Exit 28 were cleared by 5:36 a.m., and the roadway is now back open to regular traffic flow. The Sheriff's office had previously informed the public of the complete shutdown and the efforts undertaken to provide alternative routes during the emergency response.
The identity of the deceased driver has not been released pending notification of the next of kin. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash, and additional details are expected to be released. Traffic has since returned to normal in the area.
