Lakeland, Florida –
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash in Lakeland Friday afternoon, June 26, 2020, in which a motorcyclist was killed.
Upon arrival, deputies found the motorcyclist, 22-year-old Gabrielle Meek of Lakeland, deceased.
The driver of the other vehicle, 54-year-old Letterva Ries of Lakeland, was entrapped in her vehicle, but uninjured.
Meek was the driver of a black 2002 Suzuki motorcycle, and Ries was driving a silver 2008 Kia Spectra.
Deputies were dispatched to the crash on U.S. 92 at Meridian Avenue in Lakeland, about 4:49 pm.
According to the preliminary investigation, Meek was travelling west on U.S. 92 on the inside lane. Ries’ Kia approached a stop sign at the intersection while going south on Meridian Avenue.
Ries attempted to turn left onto U.S. 92 (eastbound), but crossed in front of Meek’s motorcycle, which had the right-of-way.
Meek’s motorcycle struck the Kia just in front of the driver’s door, which caused Meek to be ejected from the bike.
Meek was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but suffered fatal trauma from the impact.
A witness stated that Ries’ vehicle did not come to a complete stop before it entered into the intersection, but any charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, which is ongoing.
All lanes of U.S. 92 near Meridian Avenue were closed for approximately three hours for the investigation.
