Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash Saturday, May 26, 2018 at around 8:46 p.m., on County Road 542 East near Fields Road near Lakeland, in which one person was killed.
63-year-old Iniol Ramos of Auburndale was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, 31-year-old Paula Montgomery of Lakeland, suffered minor injuries, and her one-year-old passenger was uninjured. The child was secured in a forward-facing child seat, and Montgomery was wearing her seatbelt.
According to the preliminary investigation, Ramos was driving east on CR 542. Witnesses said his vehicle repeatedly strayed outside of his lane of travel prior to the crash.
As Ramos’ white 2004 Toyota Corolla approached Montgomery’s westbound grey 2003 Toyota Camry, he crossed the center line and sideswiped the Camry, and both vehicles spun. Ramos was not wearing his seatbelt.
Impairment on Ramos’ part is suspected of being a factor for the crash, however blood toxicology will be conducted by the Medical Examiner’s Office.
This investigation is ongoing.
