MULBERRY, Fla. — Two people are dead after a semi-truck and box truck crashed in Polk County and sparked a fire, the sheriff's office confirmed.
Deputies say the crash happened around 8 a.m. Wednesday on Highway 37 South near Four Corners Mine Road in Mulberry.
The sheriff's office said a white Peterbilt semi-truck used to transport phosphate collided with a white Isuzu box truck. The box truck was traveling south, while the semi-truck was going north.
When both vehicles were approaching the intersection, a separate vehicle going south began to make a left turn onto Ft. Green Mine Road. That was when investigators believe the woman driving the box truck did not notice the vehicles in front of her slowing down.
Deputies say she attempted to avoid a collision with the vehicle in front of her by swerving left into the northbound lane, which would put her in the way of the semi-truck. The crash would cause the semi to flip over with the driver, identified as a man, inside.
Both drivers were killed.
Sky 10 flew over the area, which showed both trucks overturned.
A fire broke out in the area due to the crash and spread to the grass but was "quickly extinguished." Highway 37 was closed until about 3:45 p.m., according to the sheriff's office.
The agency says they are still working to confirm the identities of the drivers involved.