Leon Milton Springs was a happy-go-lucky, religious man who would be familiar to a lot of Lakeland, FL residents who saw him and his friend riding their scooters, said a group of his female neighbors at Lakeland Presbyterian Apartments on South Florida Avenue, in Lakeland, FL.
According to the Lakeland Ledger, the 72-year-old Springs man died Tuesday evening when he was struck by a car while crossing Sikes Boulevard, just blocks from his home, on his three-wheel disability scooter.
The driver who hit him was apparently not at fault. Witnesses have told Lakeland police the car had the green light.
The accident occured about 6:50 p.m. Tuesday at Lime Street.
Springs was headed from east to west across Sikes Boulevard, in Lakeland,, FL when he was struck by the right front bumper of a black 1996 Mitsubishi 3000 GT driven by Kyle Pratt, 21, of Lakeland, FL Polk County Sheriff's stated.
Pratt was heading south on Sikes Boulevard in the inside lane, police Sgt. Terri Smith said.
She said Springs was thrown 50 feet from where he was hit.
Springs was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in Lakeland, FL where he died of his injuries.
Police investigating the accident blocked southbound traffic on Sikes Boulevard, in Lakeland, FL for more than four hours.
Smith said Pratt has not been charged and several witnesses gave sworn statements that he had the right-of-way.
It was unclear how fast Pratt was driving.
Smith said a report of the accident was unavailable because it is still under investigation.
Smith said Pratt cooperated with investigators and voluntarily submitted to a blood test, the results of which are not yet available.
According to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, under Florida law, DUI is one offense, proved by impairment of normal faculties or unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above. The penalties upon conviction are the same, regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven.
In my practice as a personal injury attorney practicing in Winter Haven, FL, I represent injured victims in Polk County, FL. A car accident can be a traumatic and life altering event. In the most severe cases, a car accident can mean the permanent loss of a loved one. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash, do not delay in hiring an attorney. In Florida, the law limits the time one has to file a negligence or wrongful death action.
