FROSTPROOF, Fla. — Three people are hospitalized and one person is dead after two separate crashes minutes apart on opposite sides of Polk County on Sunday night.
The crash reportedly happened around 8:21 p.m. Sunday on Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road near U.S. Highway 27 in Frostproof and involved four cars. Deputies said nine of the ten people involved were injured and two of them remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. A 13-year-old girl also is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said.
Detectives believe the "chain of events" started when a Dodge Ram crossed over the center line and collided with a Ford F-150 pickup and then a Ford Explorer. After the crash, some of the occupants exited their vehicles and were hit by the Ford when a Chevy Silverado traveled onto the scene and crashed into the Ford. The Chevy then struck two other victims and "dragged them both for a short distance," according to a news release.
The roadway was shut down for six hours while law enforcement investigated.
Another crash happened minutes later about 35 miles away on Rockridge Road, north of Lakeland. Deputies say 22-year-old Jerome Cooke was driving east in his pickup truck when he veered off the road and struck a wooden power pole.
He was found dead at the scene.
Rockridge Road was closed for four and a half hours but has since reopened.
Both crashes are still under investigation, according to deputies.