'Heartbreaking tragedy': Auburndale High School student dies in Winter Haven crash

Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger
·2 min read
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Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a crash that killed 15-year-old Yeriel Gonzalez, an Auburndale High School student, on Tuesday morning 34th Street Northwest near Avenue S.
Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a crash that killed 15-year-old Yeriel Gonzalez, an Auburndale High School student, on Tuesday morning 34th Street Northwest near Avenue S.

WINTER HAVEN — An Auburndale High School student was struck and killed Tuesday morning by an SUV in Winter Haven.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a call about an accident near 34th Street and Avenue S Northwest shortly before 6 a.m. Yeriel Gonzalez, 15, of Winter Haven was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office said Gonzalez was riding a small black-and-white electric scooter, similar to a Razor, in the southbound lane of 34th Street on his way to a friend's house. A gray 2016 Dodge Durango driven by John Barrett III, 29, of Winter Haven was traveling north along 34th Street on his way to work. The SUV was traveling behind another vehicle as it approached Avenue S.

Barrett told deputies that he swerved to avoid some dogs that ran into the roadway, entering the southbound lane of 34th Street, according to the Sheriff's Office. The front of the Durango struck Gonzalez.

The accident investigation is open and ongoing at this time. Barrett was not injured.

PCSO chaplains responded to the scene and have met with the boy's family, according to the Sheriff's Office. PCSO's Safe School Division is working with Polk County Public Schools to provide any assistance or support to Auburndale High School students and staff.

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"We join the Auburndale High community in mourning the loss of Yeriel Gonzalez. Yeriel was a sophomore at AHS and was well known, and liked, among the students and staff," reads a statement from Polk County Public Schools. "He was regarded as a talented baseball player and a leader among his peers in the school's ESOL club. This is a heartbreaking tragedy for AHS and Polk County Public Schools. Our hearts go out to Yeriel's family and friends."

Polk County Public Schools has made crisis counselors available to students and staff.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Auburndale High School student dies in morning crash in Winter Haven