A Polk County Sheriff's Office detective's car was struck by an oncoming car when he tried to make a U-turn on Reynolds Road on Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2009.
The accident happened about 3 p.m. on Reynolds Road near the subdivision of Angler's Cove, in Lakeland, FL, police reports said. Those involved in the crash received minor injuries.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Polk County Sheriffs Office Detective Kurt Karakash, was driving his Ford Taurus north on Reynolds Road in Lakeland, FL, when he made a U-turn and was struck by an oncoming Honda Accord, which was driven by Elias Rivera of Auburndale, FL.
The impact caused the Taurus to spin, and Rivera's Honda struck a fence on the west side of the road, Polk county, FL police reports said.
Karakash, was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for minor injuries and was expected to be released Wednesday night.
Rivera, 23, and his three passengers, Jessica Negron, 22, Elieser Rivera, 1, and Elileana Rivera, 17, were also taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL, with minor injuries. Elileana Rivera was the only one not wearing a seat belt, reports said.
The accident remains under investigation.
Seat belt laws are divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary seat belt laws allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver for not wearing a seat belt, without any other traffic offense taking place. Secondary seat belt laws state that law enforcement officers may issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt only when there is another citable traffic infraction, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Specific laws vary greatly from state to state, depending on the age of the rider and in what seat he or she is sitting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Rivas Law Group, L.L.C. is a personal injury law firm located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the legal needs of Polk County, FL and representing injured victims.
