A 69-year-old Mulberry woman died Friday night after her car crossed the center line on State Road 37 near Bradley Junction and collided with a semi-truck before slamming head-on into a second vehicle. The crash left State Road 37 closed for roughly three hours as investigators worked the scene, and a passenger-car driver from Massachusetts was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched at around 8:41 p.m. Friday to the crash at State Road 37 and Main Avenue, according to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The agency confirmed the three-vehicle wreck in Bradley Junction resulted in the death of one of the drivers. Polk County Fire Rescue also responded to the scene, per Daily Ridge, which reported additional details on the vehicles and drivers involved.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to the outlet's reporting, the Mulberry woman was driving a silver 2018 Chrysler 300 north on SR-37 when, per preliminary investigation, her car crossed the center line for reasons that remain unknown. The Chrysler 300 struck the driver-side wheels of a southbound 2007 Kenworth semi-truck driven by a 35-year-old Wimauma man, then went out of control and struck a southbound black 2013 Chrysler 200 head-on. That second vehicle was driven by a 25-year-old man from Northborough, Massachusetts.
The Mulberry woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where she died shortly after arriving, the report states. The truck driver was treated at the scene, while the Massachusetts driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. State Road 37 remained closed for approximately three hours while crews cleared the roadway, and the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A Road With a History of Serious Wrecks
Friday's crash wasn't the first time a serious collision has shut down State Road 37 in Polk County. In February 2024, a crash on the same roadway left at least one person with serious injuries and prompted authorities to close the road south of Mulberry, according to ClickOrlando. That closure blocked traffic south of Highway 640, with vehicles diverted at Maine Avenue and Jamison Road before the road reopened in both directions by 2:15 p.m. that day. The available evidence doesn't establish a broader pattern of crashes along the corridor, but the 2024 incident shows this isn't the first time the stretch has seen a major response.
No citations, charges, or other enforcement actions tied to Friday's crash have been disclosed, and officials have not released further details on the cause of the collision beyond the preliminary account of the Chrysler 300 crossing the center line. Investigators have not identified the deceased driver by name.
