LAKELAND, Fla. — A 70-year-old man was hit and killed by a street sweeper early Thursday morning in Lakeland, according to authorities.
The incident happened around 4:40 a.m. as a city of Lakeland street sweeper was traveling northbound on North Tennessee Avenue, the Lakeland Police Department said in a news release.
"The sweeper turned right onto East Oak Street and after negotiating the turn, the driver felt an impact," Lakeland police wrote in a statement. "After checking his surroundings and seeing nothing, the driver proceeded to move forward in an eastbound direction."
Police say the driver quickly called 911 after seeing a person lying in the street behind the vehicle.
Police say the man died at the scene.
Traffic homicide detectives are still trying to determine why the 70-year-old man was in the street at the time of the crash. Detectives are still trying to locate the man's next of kin.
