A 56-year-old Lakeland, FL Police Officer died Monday afternoon after a car accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, Lakeland, FL veteran police officer Charlie Dallas, was driving a 2008 Ford Explorer, around 4:20 p.m. Monday, when he was involved in a crash as he drove north on U.S. 27 in Lakeland, FL just south of Lake Wales, FL, according to Polk County investigators.
While driving south on U.S. 27, Federico Vasquez, 23, of Sebring, FL swerved left to avoid hitting a 1989 Ford station wagon, driven by 54-year-old Lake Wales, FL resident Sharon Kolbinskie, who was crossing the road at Jackson Street, the FHP reported.
Vasquez, who was driving a 2006 Pontiac G6, crossed the median and traveled into the path of a 2008 Ford Explorer that Dallas was driving.
The left side of Vasquez's car struck the left side of the Explorer, according to the FHP. The Explorer went out of control and rolled over, throwing Dallas out.
Vasquez and his passenger, Katie Boyette, were not injured.
Dallas's Explorer overturned, and he was ejected. He wasn't wearing a seatbelt, according to the FHP. No one else was injured in the crash.
Dallas, a former Lakeland, FL firefighter, had been working an off-duty detail for the Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL when the crash occurred. Dallas' passenger, 33-year-old Karyn Spencer of Lakeland, FL was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center in Lake Wales, FL with minor injuries, the report said.
"Charlie was one of the bravest and most courageous officers I've worked with," police spokesman Jack Gillen said. "To say the mood in the police department was somber after hearing the news would be an understatement," Gillen said. "It was extremely sad. Charlie was extremely well respected throughout the department."
The crash remains under investigation.
According to a 2002 press release on the 2001 preliminary statistics report presented by the Florida Bureau of Investigation(FBI), 140 of the Nation's law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty in 2001. This number includes the 71 officers killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. By circumstance, ten officers were murdered in 2001 while answering domestic disturbance calls, and ten were killed during traffic pursuits and stops. Eight officers were slain investigating drug-related matters, while another eight officers were killed attempting other arrests or serving arrest warrants. Sadly, Officer Dallas' death appears to be accidental and not in any way connected with a felony.
As a personal injury attorney, located in Winter Haven, FL, I am honored to represent the residents of Polk County, FL. My heart goes out to the family and friends Officer Dallas left behind. This truly is tragic loss.
