FORT MEADE, Fla. — A Polk County worker was hit and killed while working to clean up the devastation left behind by Hurricane Milton.
According to the county, 68-year-old Bruce Kinsler, a Fort Meade maintenance unit service worker, has served the county for about a decade. He was responding along with crews from the sheriff's office and fire department to begin clearing roads.
County officials say Kinsler was in the process of cutting down a tree that had fallen and was blocking U.S. 98 at Brooke Road when he was hit by a car.
The driver was reportedly another Polk County employee who was coming to join the crew for storm recovery efforts.
According to the county, Kinsler was wearing personal protective equipment, and all proper roadway safety precautions were taken.
“The tragedy of this incident is compounded by the fact that Bruce Kinsler was killed serving the residents of this county,” Bill Braswell, Polk County Commission board chair, said. “We ask a lot of the employees as public servants, and they respond to the call. For this to happen is just a tragedy.”
Polk County officials said this is the second roadwork-related fatality in the division in the past 20 years.
