Traffic Homicide detectives for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate a fatal crash between a bicycle and a semi-tractor that occurred Tuesday evening, September 6, 2022, south of Winter Haven.
50-year old Michelle Loyola was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries. The driver of the truck was not injured.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash at US 17 and 2nd Avenue in the Eloise neighborhood at around 8:10 p.m.
Detectives gathered evidence and witness statements, and the preliminary investigation determined that the semi-tractor was travelling north on US 17.
As the truck approached 2nd Avenue, Ms. Loyola drove her bicycle from the median, into the path of the oncoming truck. The driver of the truck swerved into the southbound lanes in an attempt to avoid hitting the bicyclist.
The Florida Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control as a portion of US 17 was closed for about three hours during the investigation.
