Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Early Friday morning, October 20, 2017, around 3:35 a.m., PCSO traffic homicide unit responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a 2000 white Mercury Grand Marquis, on U.S. 27 at the intersection of Southwood Lane in Frostproof.
Preliminary information suggests:
The Mercury Grand Marquis, driven by Jose Candenas Jr., was traveling southbound on U.S. 27, just north of Southwood Lane, when he traveled off the inside (east) shoulder of the roadway. It appears that he over-corrected at which time the car continued in a southwest direction across both lanes of southbound U.S. 27. The vehicle traveled off the west side of the roadway, after exiting onto the shoulder, Cardenas over-corrected again, at which time the car lost traction and began to rotate counter-clockwise.
As the vehicle continued south, traveling approximately 730 feet, it struck the culvert at Southwood lane and became airborne. The car struck the ground and began to roll sideways until it came to rest on its roof in a shallow water-filled ditch along the west shoulder. The car traveled 170 feet from the point it went airborne until final rest.
All the occupants wear seat belted at the time of the crash. The front driver and passenger airbags both deployed. All occupants were transported to LRHMC:
Driver: 19-year-old Jose Cardenas Jr. of Lantana, FL – treated and released
Right Front passenger: 19-year-old Elynette Cancel of Plantation, FL – Stable
Right Rear passenger: 40-year-old Caridad Abreu of Boyton Beach, FL – Stable
Left Rear passenger: 29-year-old Fabiola Fleurima of Boyton Beach, FL – deceased on scene
Cardenas told deputies that they were traveling back home after being at Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and he fell asleep behind the wheel.
U.S. 27 southbound was closed for approximately 4 hours during the investigation.
