A local Winter Haven, FL man was killed and another seriously injured in a fatal car crash in Lake Wales. According to the Lakeland Ledger Article, Two-Car Crash On S.R. 60 Kills One, Injures One, Raul Flores was traveling eastbound on S.R. 60 near Godwin Road Wednesday morning. Apparently, Flores lost control of his 1994 Jeep Cherokee while traveling eastbound on S.R. 60.
Florida Highway Patrol reports Flores' vehicle veered onto the south shoulder, swerved back over the eastbound lanes and then drifted over the grass median. The vehicle overturned and came to final rest on its side, in the direct path of driver, Neal Carlin. Carlin, who was driving a 2000 Ford F-350, was traveling westbound on S.R. 60 when he struck the roof of Flores' vehicle.
Flores was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Armando Rodriguez Martinez, was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital, via airlift. He is in critical condition. Carlin was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center for minor injuries. A full investigation is currently underway.
During this most difficult time of grief, it may be critical to obtain legal representation to secure any possible claims. Loss of vehicle control may indicate a potential products liability claim. In such cases, it is critical to preserve the vehicles involved in the collision in their original condition. A hired expert may need to inspect the vehicles at a future time to determine the underlying cause of the crash.
In my Polk County, Florida law practice, I have seen unfortunate instances where a products liability claim is lost because the vehicles were discarded shortly after the accident. A qualified personal injury attorney can take immediate steps to ensure this does not happen.
