Multi-vehicle wreck in Lakeland leaves 1 driver dead, 2 hospitalized

LAKELAND, FL – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that killed a driver on Friday morning.

Fox 13 News reports the accident occurred on U.S. Highway 98 near Lakeland Acres Road in Lakeland just after 7 a.m. Investigators said 28-year-old Aaron Michael Russ was driving south on the highway when he drifted into the northbound lanes and sideswiped a semi-truck and trailer.

Russ’s vehicle then continued further into the northbound lane where it hit another semi-truck and trailer, causing the truck to slide off the road into a ditch. Russ, a Center Hill resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of one of the trucks was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital, while the other truck driver was hospitalized as a precaution.

The sheriff’s office said Russ was not wearing a seatbelt at the time while the other drivers were wearing seatbelts.

U.S. Highway 98 was shut down in the area for about six hours while the accident was being investigated.

At Kemp Law Group, we have handled many accident cases involving a variety of vehicles, and stand ready to help if you or a loved one have been the victim of a crash. Our Polk County Car Accident Lawyers have a track record of securing high-dollar results for our clients, and can put this experience to work for you to achieve the compensation you are entitled to. Call us today for a free consultation at 727-645-0769 or use our online contact form to discuss your case with one of our experienced lawyers.