HAINES CITY, Fla. — A man from Poinciana was killed in a five-car crash Wednesday afternoon in Haines City, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the crash around 5:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 17/92 near the intersection with Dyson Road, close to the Minerva Mobile Home Park.
According to the investigation so far, Jalen and Terence Gaskins were each traveling westbound on 17/92. The two were on their way back to work after picking up their employer's newly purchased pickup truck. At the intersection, Jalen attempted to change lanes and go around a vehicle that had just made a U-turn onto 17/92, but he lost control of the truck, sliding and rotating until he hit the truck Terence was driving. That collision caused minor damage and no injuries to either driver.
Then, the truck Jalen was driving continued to spin crossed the center median, into oncoming traffic, crashing into 32-year-old Yohanmi Mena Lopez, who was driving a Subaru Tribeca. Lopez's car went off the roadway and into a ditch. Lopez died at the scene from his injuries. The truck Jalen was driving then flipped onto the driver’s side and was hit by Lopez’s wife Yomairy Lugo, who was driving behind her husband. She was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and released.
A fifth driver, who was also heading eastbound, traveled past the crashed cars and through the debris, where he then went off the roadway, crashing into an embankment.
All five of the drivers were wearing seatbelts. It was not raining when the crash occurred, and it was still light outside. Several people witnessed the crash.
The roadways were shut down for approximately five hours during the investigation, which is still ongoing.
