Jimmy P. Justice, 59, of Lake Wales, FL an equipment operator with the county's Dundee, FL maintenance facility, died in the accident, which happened about 11 a.m. as county maintenance crews were working along the shoulder of the road.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Thomas U. Davidson, 51, of Haines City, was treated at the scene for minor injuries, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
The accident happened when a 2001 maroon Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Johnnie M. Lemon, 52, of Lakeland, FL, was heading east on Lake Hatchineha Road in Lakeland, FL and left the road for an unknown reason, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported.
The truck first struck Justice and then hit Davidson as they worked along the road's shoulder. Justice died at the scene.
Justice had worked for the county since Feb. 15, 1988. He had expressed an interest in becoming a foreman and was working toward that goal, a news release from Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.
Justice was a veteran of the Air Force. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Micheline, and one sister.
The accident is under investigation.
Every day in the United States, approximately 115 americans die from motor vehicle accidents.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, in Polk County, FL alone there were more than 3,700 reported hospitalizations because of unintentional accidents and injuries during 2007. During 2006, 144 people were killed during an auto accident in Polk County, FL more than half of those individuals were pedestrians.
In my practice as a personal injury attorney, I represent accident victims in Polk County, FL. If your family member was killed in an accident, you should not delay in hiring an attorney to protect your legal rights. In this article, it is noted that the victim was struck by an automobile while working. Pursuant to Florida law, an individual who is injured or killed while in the course and scope of employment has a worker's compensation claim. Negligence law also applies. In Florida, there is a two year statute of limitations to bring a claim in both worker's compensation and wrongful death. Thus, it is crucial to hire a lawyer immediately.
