Auburndale, Florida – Auburndale police are investigating an overnight crash that has resulted in the death of one person and injuring three others. Police responded to Highway 92 just West of Recker Highway at 2:56 am this morning. A flatbed tractor/trailer hauling lumber was traveling East on Hwy 92 in the right turn lane to make a right turn onto Recker Highway. A 2015 Volkswagen Jetta with four occupants, drove into the rear of the flatbed trailer. The driver of the Jetta died at the hospital, his three passengers were injured. The truck driver was not injured.
The driver of the Volkswagen Jetta, Eleasin Gonsalez 3/24/1994 of Sunset Cr. in Lake Alfred was transported to Lakeland regional Medical Center where he later died. The front passenger, Jean Lynn Cochran 4/5/1976 of 27th St NW in Winter Haven was also transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with severe injuries and is listed in stable condition this morning. The two rear passengers, Hugh Allen Birchfield 6/2/1984 of Bayport Dr in Kissimmee and Edward S. Lebron 8/2/1977 of Robert Av. Winter Haven were transported to Winter Haven Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. None of the occupants of the Jetta were wearing seatbelts.
The owner/operator of the semi tractor/trailer, Braxton Charles Raborn 4/17/1948 of Arcadia was not injured as was wearing his seatbelt.
Two traffic lanes were closed during the on-scene investigation. The roadway is back open this morning.
Police will be continuing their investigation to try and determine why the driver drove into the rear of the semi. There are no indications of impairment, toxicology results could take a couple of months.
The crash is still under investigation with interviews
