According to the Lakeland Ledger, on Sunday, September 27, two Polk county residents were killed in the five-vehicle crash on U.S. 98 North that began when a 2005 Chevrolet pickup veered into the wrong lane of traffic Saturday afternoon, officials said. Killed in the accident were the driver of the Chevrolet pickup, Bessie R. Sanders, 65, and the driver of a 1990 Ford pickup, Jonathan Champion, 51, the patrol said. Both were wearing seat belts.
The accident occurred about 3:50 p.m. Saturday along a curve near the Big Cypress Golf and Country Club, Lakeland, FL, were the speed limit is 60 miles per hour.
The FHP stated that the preliminary investigation determined that Sanders was driving north on U.S. 98, Lakeland, FL, when her pickup began to veer into the southbound lane of traffic, where it struck Conroy's southbound motorcycle head-on. That crash threw Conroy and his passenger off the motorcycle and caused a series of collisions.
Michael J. Champion, 27, of Lakeland FL, a passenger in the Ford pickup, traveling south behind the motorcycle, shifted toward the shoulder in an attempt to avoid the accident, but struck the left front of the Chevrolet pickup. The force of the crash caused Champion's truck to turn on its roof on the west shoulder and Sanders' pickup to rotate counterclockwise 180 degrees. Champion was seriously injured and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, FL. He was wearing a seat belt.
A 2001 Toyota sedan, driven by Harry Bouldry, 61, of Crystal River, Lakeland, FL was heading south behind the Ford pickup and collided with the rear of Sanders' pickup.
The force of the collision pushed the Toyota into the northbound lane, where it side-swiped a northbound 1999 blue Ford sport utility vehicle, driven by Richard Denmark, 51, of Lakeland FL.
Neither Bouldry or Denmark were injured. Both were wearing seat belts. Both their vehicles had minor damage, the FHP said.
Paul J. Conroy, 55, of Odessa, a community north of Tampa, was the driver of the 2000 Harley motorcycle who was critically injured and taken Tampa General HospitalTampa, FL. His passenger was killed, the patrol said. Neither one was wearing helmets.
Champion was seriously injured and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, FL. He was wearing a seat belt.
Failure to wear seat belts cost more lives per capita in Polk County than any other large county in the state. Out of the 71 Polk County fatalities in 2006, Polk County ranked fourth among Florida's top 10 most populous counties, behind only Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, all of which are much larger.
Polk county crash rates has nearly doubled any other large county in 2006. These are the most recent figures available.
These crash statistics were released in conjunction with the launch of Click It or Ticket, an annual national law enforcement effort designed to increase seat belt use.
One of the most positive changes in Polk county statistics is the decrease in motorcycle-related deaths, stated by Sgt. Steve Gaskins, Lakeland, FL, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol. In 2007, 14 motorcyclists were killed, down less than 33 percent in 2007 from 21 percent from the year before.
Statewide, 517 motorcyclists were killed last year who were not wearing helmets, down less than 1 percent from 521 in 2006. Forty-two percent were not wearing a safety helmet.
