A two-vehicle crash south of Lake Wales on Monday, November 27, 2023, left one man deceased and another man uninjured.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, at around 7:21pm.
The crash on US 27 at Harbor Drive involved a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck and a white 2007 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer.
When first responders arrived, they found the driver of the GMC deceased in his vehicle.
The driver of the semi-truck, a 34-year old Ocala man was not injured.
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The PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations responded to the crash and began collecting witness statements and examining evidence.
The preliminary investigation determined that the semi-truck was making a U-turn from southbound US 27 to travel northbound.
The GMC pickup was traveling north in the outside lane when it collided with the semi-truck’s trailer.
Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
PCSO detectives are still trying to locate and notify next of kin for the driver of the GMC pickup who was a resident of Sebring.
Northbound lanes of US 27 remained closed for about four hours Monday night, but the investigation remains ongoing.
