SR 60 Crash Claims Life of Lakeland Man

A 73-year-old Lakeland man who apparently failed to see a tractor-trailer rig crossing SR 60 near Bartow was killed early Tuesday morning after his Dodge pickup truck collided with the trailer, shearing off the top of the vehicle and killing him instantly, according to Polk County Sheriff's office Traffic Homicide Unit.

Courtesy POolk County Sheriff's office Traffic Homicide Unit.

The entire top was sheared off this Dodge pickup truck, instantly killing the driver who had apparently failed to notice the tractor-trailer making a turn across the highway in front of him.

The PCSO is investigating the crash that occurred around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday at 2710 State Road 60, just west of Bartow.

A delivery driver who had arrived early at the Henry Company's east side parking lot at that location slept overnight in his rig. Employees at the business woke him up and asked him to come to the west side of the business to offload his tanker, which was filled with mineral spirits.

The driver of the Peterbilt semi drove out of the lot and crossed the eastbound lanes of SR 60, before using the center median to make a U-turn to go back into the business parking lot on the west side. As he was crossing back over the eastbound lanes and entering the lot, the Dodge truck was heading eastbound on SR 60.

The unidentified driver apparently failed to see the truck in the pre-dawn darkness. The Dodge went completely under the trailer and came to rest on the other side, killing the driver instantly. He was the only occupant. The semi driver was not injured.

The investigation is ongoing. The roadway in that area was closed for approximately four hours.