LAKELAND, FL (July 31, 2023) – On Sunday, July 30, 2023, at approximately 1:55 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Olive Street for a traffic crash involving a single vehicle. At the scene, officers located an unresponsive male inside the vehicle, a gold 2006 Nissan Armada. The Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene to begin life-saving measures. Despite the efforts of first responders, the 23-year-old male driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Based on information gathered thus far in the investigation, officers believe the Nissan SUV was traveling eastbound on Olive Street at a high rate of speed when it passed a vehicle traveling in the same direction on a double yellow line. The SUV entered a grass median and impacted a closed road sign on the side of the road. As the vehicle reentered the roadway, the driver lost control, causing the SUV to impact a utility pole and a fence before overturning on the south side of the roadway.
The driver of the SUV was identified as Samuel Romero, age 23, from Lakeland.
Members of the Traffic Homicide team responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The crash remains an open investigation. Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Tyler Anderson at [email protected].
