Lakeland Police: Driver dies after being shot on W. Memorial Blvd. early Friday

The Lakeland Police Department is investigating what it said was the fatal shooting of a driver early Friday morning on West Memorial Boulevard.

At about 2:30 a.m., a traffic crash occurred just outside the city, near West Memorial Boulevard and Chestnut Road, involving a white Kia and a black Ford truck, LPD reported. The Polk County Sheriff's Office responded and began investigating.

Just before the crash, the driver of the truck was traveling west on Memorial Boulevard when the Kia struck his vehicle, the report said. Deputies interviewed the driver of the truck, who remained at the scene and did not suffer any injuries. The Kia was found abandoned in the center median, and deputies saw multiple bullet holes, the report said.

Detectives learned that the Kia’s driver, a 46-year-old man, had suffered gunshot wounds and was transported by a personal vehicle to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center before the PCSO arrived at the scene. Despite emergency medical treatment, the man was soon pronounced dead, the report said.

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LPD withheld the victim's name, citing a statute known as Marsy's Law.

PCSO began to investigate and determined that the shooting occurred within Lakeland’s city limits, in the 2900 block of West Memorial Boulevard. The Lakeland Police Department was notified, and detectives responded to take over the investigation.

Detectives are actively working to gather all evidence and interview all witnesses, LPD said. Investigators are asking anyone who may have information to contact Detective Troy Smith at troy.smith@lakelandgov.net.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 800-226-TIPS (8477).

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland PD: Driver dies after being shot on W. Memorial Blvd.