Second Fatal Incident in Same Day Takes Life of Orlando Woman

May 13- An argument and poor judgement led to the death of an Orlando woman Saturday night, only some three hours after the traffic death of a Lake Wales man nearby.

According to Lake Wales Traffic Homicide Investigators, Lataysha Rene Kelly, 27, of Orlando had been driving west on Chalet Suzanne Road just west of Dinner Lake Shores in Lake Wales, at approximately 10:55 pm, accompanied by Donald Dixon 34, also of Orlando. Police reported that the two were having an argument when Kelly stopped the car in the west-bound lane of travel, allowing Dixon to get out of the vehicle.

After Dixon started walking east along Chalet Suzanne Road, Kelly left their 2015 Nissan Altima unattended in the roadway and followed Dixon. The unlighted car was parked in the travel lane.

A cable repair employee in the area reportedly saw Kelly's vehicle parked in the roadway with no lights on and "used the spot light from his work truck to illuminate the car so other drivers would see it and avoid a collision," police reported.

John Stealy, 68, of Lake Wales was traveling east on Chalet Suzanne Road driving a 2003 Toyota 4-runner and passed by the repair truck and the Altima, but did not see Kelly or Dixon walking in the roadway. Stealy's Toyota struck Kelly, who was thrown from the roadway.

Emergency personnel including Lake Wales Police, Lake Wales Fire Department and Polk County Emergency Medical Services arrived and located Kelly, who was transported to a local hospital where she died from her injuries.

There are no streetlights in the area where the incident took place, thought city planners have proposed the construction of sidewalks and street lighting on the busy corridor.

If you have any information regarding this crash please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. Or, if you would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers, call 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) or **TIPS from your cell phone. You can also visit http://www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on "Submit a Tip", or download the free "P3tips" app on your smartphone or tablet to provide information.