A crash involving two vehicles on Deen Still Road in Lakeland Monday morning, February 13, 2023 resulted in the death of one of the drivers.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, were dispatched at about 9:15 a.m., to the crash scene at the intersection of Deen Still Road and Moore Road.
Upon arrival of first responders, a 68-year-old Melbourne man was found deceased. He was driving a burgundy 2021 Indian motorcycle.
The second driver, a 63-year-old Polk City man, was uninjured. He was driving a white 2002 Ford F150 pick-up truck.
Based on evidence and interviews at the scene, Traffic Homicide investigators determined that the pick-up truck was traveling westbound on Deen Still Road at the Moore Road intersection, and the motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Deen Still Road. The driver of the pick-up truck attempted to make a left hand turn onto Moore Road. He crossed the eastbound lane and struck the motorcycle.
The driver of the pick-up truck was not wearing a seatbelt. The motorcyclists was wearing a helmet.
Excessive speed and distracted driving do not appear to be factors in the crash. The roadway was closed in both directions for approximately 3 hours during the investigation, which remains on-going.
