LAKELAND, Fla. — Three teens died after they were involved in a multi-car crash Wednesday night in Lakeland, police said.
It happened around 10:30 p.m. on U.S. 98 N near Fountainlake Drive. Officers said they were called to respond to the area after reports three cars were involved in a crash.
When they arrived, officers said they found three teens unresponsive inside one of the cars, a 2012 Nissan Versa. The Lakeland Police Department, the Polk County Fire Rescue,and the Lakeland Fire Department all responded and attempted to administer life-saving measures.
Lakeland Police spokesperson Stephanie Kerr said the three teens had to be cut out of the car.
"So any damage that is seen in the photographs is possibly damage from the extrication of the vehicle as well as the impact," Kerr said.
The driver, a 16-year-old girl from Lakeland, was extricated from the Nissan and rushed to the hospital. She died a short time after arriving, officers said. Her front-seat passenger, a 19-year-old boy from Lakeland, and her rear passenger, a 16-year-old boy from Lakeland both died at the scene, police said in a news release.
The two other drivers involved, one in a 2006 Lincoln Mark LT pickup truck and the other in a 2010 Toyota Corolla, both had minor injuries. Neither was taken to the hospital for treatment.
At this time in the investigation, police said they believe the Nissan's driver was speeding down northbound U.S. 98 in the inside lane.
At the same time, the pickup truck driver was going southbound on U.S. 98, entered the left turn lane, and tried to make it into the plaza located on the east side of the roadway.
But as the pickup truck driver was making the turn, it was hit by the Nissan. After the collision, both cars rotated and slid eastbound. The Nissan stopped at the entrance/exit of the plaza. The pickup truck hit the Toyota Corolla, whose driver was trying to exit the plaza and turn right onto U.S. 98. Both the truck and sedan came to a stop in the roadway.
"Our hearts go out to the families who have been forever changed by this event," Kerr said. "And anybody who is watching, we would just ask you to please, you know, keep these families in your hearts and prayers — and just remember that they are going to be forever changed by this event."
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.