3 die in separate crashes across Polk County on Saturday
A 26-year-old Winer Haven motorcyclist, a 38-year-old Lake Alfred man and a 51-year-old Lakeland man died in three separate traffic crashes around Polk County on Saturday, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Winter Haven man dies when motorcycle leaves the road
The Sheriff's Office said Freddie Wardlaw III, 26, of Winter Haven died shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday when his motorcycle left the roadway on Cypress Gardens Boulevard and struck a MidFlorida Credit Union sign.
Traffic homicide detectives said that according to evidence and witness statements, the 2004 Suzuki Sport motorcycle was traveling west at a high rate of speed and struck curb while entering a slight curve. They said Wardlaw was wearing a helmet but suffered blunt force trauma and was declared dead at the scene.
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Lake Alfred man dies in single-vehicle crash near Frostproof
The next fatal crash happened shortly after 8 p.m. on U.S. 27 near Charles Street southwest of Frostproof.
The Sheriff's Office said Bryam Torres, 38, of Lake Alfred was north on U.S. 27 when his 2011 Isuzu Trooper left the roadway in a slight curve and flipped multiple times. Detectives said Torres was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
First responders found Torres with life-threatening injuries and flew him to a local hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
Third fatal crash in Polk County on Saturday claimed the life of a Lakeland man
In the third crash, Selestino Vega Bocanegra Mata, 51, of Lakeland died when a Chevrolet pickup truck traveling the opposite direction on New Tampa Highway in Lakeland crossed the center line and collided with his Toyota pickup.
The crash happened shortly before midnight about 1,000 feet east of the Polk Parkway.
First responders found Bocanegra Mata dead when they arrived. The driver of the Chevrolet, Leonardo Barrera Zurita, 25, of Lakeland, was taken to a local hospital and treated for a broken leg and hand. His passenger, Frederico Garcia Duran, 32, also of Lakeland, was taken to a hospital and treated for cuts and bruises.
Detectives found that the Toyota had been traveling east on New Tampa Highway and the Chevy was going west. As the two vehicles approached each other, the Chevrolet crossed over the center line and struck the Toyota. All occupants were wearing seat belts.
The Sheriff's Office did not immediately say whether speed, distraction or intoxication were factors, but said the investigation is ongoing.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Three fatal wrecks on Saturday in Polk: Two of them single-vehicle
