A Lake Alfred semi-truck driver was killed yesterday afternoon when his rig left Deen Still Road and overturned, pinning him beneath the trailer as crews rushed to the rural scene, according to deputies.
The crash shut down the two-lane roadway while first responders, tow crews, and investigators worked to locate the driver and process the wreckage. The case has been turned over to traffic homicide investigators.
Crash Details From Investigators
The wreck happened around 3:05 p.m. as a blue 2002 Freightliner semi-truck with a dump trailer was heading east on Deen Still Road. Investigators say the truck appeared to be moving too fast to safely handle a right-hand curve, which sent the rig off the pavement and into a steep shoulder, according to FOX 13.
Emergency crews arrived to find the semi on its side and the driver nowhere in the cab. Deputies secured the area while recovery teams moved in and began the slow work of stabilizing the truck and gathering evidence.
How The Truck Came To Rest
Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigators say the driver was ejected when the semi left the roadway and rolled onto its side, then landed on top of him. First responders initially could not find the man at the scene.
In a press release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, officials said a heavy wrecker was used to lift the trailer, at which point the driver was discovered deceased underneath the vehicle. Deputies classified the wreck as a single-vehicle crash and continued documenting the scene before the truck was removed.
Investigation Underway
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has opened a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash and said officials are working to notify the driver’s next of kin, according to FOX 13. The Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is expected to lead the probe, and deputies are asking anyone with information to contact PCSO. No additional details, including the driver’s identity, were immediately released.
Road Context Around Deen Still
Deen Still Road cuts through northwest Polk County as a rural, two-lane corridor with narrow crossings and steep drainage in spots. County officials have previously issued notices about bridge repairs and closures on the route, warning that work there can require lengthy detours and urging caution for commercial haulers.
Those kinds of constraints can complicate both access to crash scenes and recovery operations. Investigators are expected to examine the roadway layout, the curve where the truck left the pavement, and other physical evidence as they work to determine exactly what led to the rollover.
Authorities say they will release more information as the investigation moves forward and reiterated their request that anyone with relevant dashcam footage or witness video contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Officials continue efforts to locate and notify the driver’s next of kin, according to the PCSO release.
