Update-
Man killed after attempting to climb dump truck that was in motion
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a pedestrian fatality that occurred on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at approximately 10:00 AM, involving a City of Lakeland Waste Management dump truck and a pedestrian. The incident occurred near the intersection of Reynolds Road and Highway 92 East in Lakeland.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, they located the pedestrian, a 56-year old from Lakeland, who had suffered fatal injuries.
PCSO received 911 calls from drivers in the area reporting that the man was running in and out of traffic waving his arms at drivers for unknown reasons. The dump truck was beginning to accelerate after stopping at the red light at the intersection of Reynolds Road and Highway 92 East when it appears that the man was attempting to climb up on the passenger side running board/step when he fell and was run over by the truck and fatally wounded. He was a known transient in the area.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 92 East were closed for nearly three hours.
PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The Traffic Homicide Unit investigates all fatal traffic crashes. The incident is still under investigation.
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Original post
At approximately 10:01 am, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to a reported crash on US 92 at Reynolds Road.
It was reported that a work truck struck a pedestrian.
The pedestrian has died from his injuries, and the PCSO is now conducting a fatal crash investigation.
The eastbound lanes of US 92 between Fish Hatchery Road and Reynolds Road were closed for a period of time, but are now back open.
We will update this article if/when more details become available.
