Orlando teen killed in Polk County crash after driver falls asleep, FHP says

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol says drowsy driving led to a crash in Polk County Tuesday that left one person dead.

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Troopers responded to SR-400 near County Line Rd. just outside of Plant City shortly after 6 a.m. for a crash involving a sedan and a pickup truck.

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According to FHP, both vehicles were headed eastbound with the sedan in the outside lane and the pickup truck in the center lane.

Troopers say the sedan driver, identified only as a 41-year-old man from Orlando, fell asleep while driving, lost control of his car and rear-ended the pickup truck.

According to FHP, the truck driver was able to safely come to a stop, but the sedan continued off to the south and hit a concrete embankment on the side of the road.

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Of four passengers in the sedan, three had either minor injuries or none at all.

However, troopers say a 19-year-old woman from Orlando who was in the Sedan died from her injuries at the scene of the crash.

According to a crash report from FHP, she was the only person involved in the crash not wearing a seatbelt at the time.

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FHP is using this crash as a reminder that they’ll be working to educate the public throughout the month of September on the dangers of drowsy driving.

Drivers who find themselves struggling to focus, yawning repeatedly, or drifting into other lanes are urged to safely pull off the road and take a break.

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