Single vehicle crash Tuesday on I-4 kills Orlando man
One man was killed and another was critically injured Tuesday, January 25, 2022, when the vehicle they were in spun out of control on I-4 in Polk County and crashed into a tree.
Both men were from Orlando; 42-year old Jean Marie St. Gilles died at the scene, and 55-year old Divel Laurent suffered critical injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash at about 10:21 AM, along with Polk County Fire Rescue.
Mr. Laurent had been driving the white 2006 Lincoln Town Car east on I-4 just before the crash, which occurred about a half-mile west of US 27 (Davenport area).
A witness told detectives from the PCSO’s Traffic Homicide Investigations that the Town Car may have gotten too close to another vehicle and Mr. Laurent jerked the steering wheel to move away, but lost control of the vehicle.
The Town Car began to rotate across the roadway as it slid into the median and struck an oak tree.
Detectives reported that both men had been wearing their seat belts, and that it was raining at the time of the crash.
Two eastbound lanes of I-4 were shut down for approximately three hours while units were on scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.
