Update at 3:15pm -THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS PRELIMINARY AND IS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FHP INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO WORK TO IDENTIFY OCCUPANTS
OF THE SIX VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH AT THAT OCCURRED AT 8:00 AM ON JUNE 21,
2016.*** V-1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON I-4 IN THE CENTER LANE EAST OF MEMORIAL
BOULEVARD NEAR THE 30 MILEPOST. V-1 WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND
POSSIBLY TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED WITH OR NEAR AN UNKNOWN COLORED TOYOTA
PRIUS. DURING THIS TIME, D-1 LOST CONTROL OF V-1 WHICH DEPARTED THE CENTER LANE
AND ENTERED THE INSIDE LANE. ONCE IN THE INSIDE LANE, THE LEFT REAR OF V-1
COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT FRONT OF V-2 WHICH WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON I-4.
POST-IMPACT, V-1 ROTATED INTO THE MEDIAN AND ENTERED THE WESTBOUND LANES AND
COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH V-6. V-1 THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF V-
1 THEN STRUCK V-3 WHICH CAME TO REST ALONG THE INSIDE SHOULDER AND LANE OF I-4.
V-2 CONTINUED EASTBOUND ON I-4 FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND CAME TO A CONTROLLED
STOP. V-1 CONTINUED TO OVERTURN AND CAME TO REST ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF
WESTBOUND I-4. AS V-1 OVERTURNED, D-1 WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND
SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. DURING THE SAME PROCESS, V-4 WAS TRAVELING
WESTBOUND ON I-4 AND COLLIDED WITH DEBRIS FROM V-6. V-4 THEN CAME TO A
CONTROLLED STOP ON THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER OF WESTBOUND I-4. V-6 TRAVELED ACROSS
THE WESTBOUND LANES OF I-4 AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY V-5 AND BOTH
VEHICLES CAME TO FINAL REST AT THE CONCRETE BARRIER WALL AT THE EXIT RAMP TO
MEMORIAL BOULEVARD. THE CRASH CLOSED THE WESTBOUND LANES OF I-4 UNTIL 1:14 PM.
Initial Information Regarding Vehicles & Victims
Vehicle 1 – 1999 Ford F250 – Driver: Dustin Wayne Toole (22) – Injuries: FATAL – Address: Haines City
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Vehicle 2 – 2008 Ford F250 – Driver: Zakhary Dean Rogers (24) – Injuries: None – Address: Westley Chapel
Vehicle 2 – 2008 Ford F250 – Passenger: Joseph Martinez (22) – Injuries None – Address: Tampa
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Vehicle 3: 2010 Nissan 4 Door – Driver: Elma Gatcha (36) – Injuries: Serious – Address: Clermont
Vehicle 3: 2010 Nissan 4 Door – Passenger: Cassie Gatcha (12)- Injuries: FATAL – Address: Clermont
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Vehicle 4: 2015 Ford Truck – Driver: William Smith (51) – Injuries: None – Address: Lakeland
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Vehicle 5: 2007 Peterbilt Truck – Driver: Donald Rolling – Injuries None – – Address: Tampa
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Vehicle 6: 2007 Chevy Van – Driver: Pending Next of Kin Notification – Injuries: Fatal – Address Venezuela
Vehicle 6: 2007 Chevy Van – Passenger: Leonardo Mathieu-Turallas – Injuries: Fatal – Address: Alpharetta GA
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Vehicle 7: 2011 Ford F150 – Driver: Roy Benson (55) – Injuries: None – Address: Westley Chapel
Update at 10:15 AM – According to officials 4 people have been killed in a 7 vehicle motor vehicle accident. The westbound lanes of I-4 remain closed at this time as the scene is investigated. The accident occurred between Kathleen Rd. & Memorial Blvd. It is unknown at this time what caused the accident. According to reports one victim is being reported as a child.
We will update as more information is made available by law enforcement.
Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is working a multiple car crash on Interstate 4 (primarily west bound lanes) between Kathleen Road and Memorial Boulevard with fatalities (reported at 8:04 a.m.). Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area and find alternate routes staying off I-4 in that area.
Traffic is affected in both directions.
