HAINES CITY, FL : Polk head-on crash kills man, 9-year-old girl; mom & 13-year-old brother hospitalized on Saturday, 7th March, 2020

A three-vehicle crash Saturday night claimed two lives, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
In a press release, PCSO reported that just before 10:40 p.m., a host of emergency personnel from the Polk County and Haines City fire units, Polk County EMS, Haines City and Davenport police departments, and the sheriff’s office responded to the crash site on U.S. 17/92 near Bates Road.Found dead at the scene was Keith E. Mitchell, 59, of Davenport, who was driving a white 2016 Kia Sorrento and had been ejected from the vehicle following impact.
Two children — Luz Benitez Morales, 13, and Yaliz Benitez Morales, 9 — who were passengers in a black 1998 Toyota 4Runner driven by their mother, 34-year-old Alexayra Morales of Waverly, were taken by medical helicopter to an Orlando hospital as trauma alerts.
Yaliz was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Luz remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Alexayra was reported in critical condition Sunday.
PCSO said in the release that evidence and witness statements indicate that a blue 2015 Ford Escape driven by Humberto Lucero, 60, of Haines City, was traveling north on U.S. 17/92 about one-quarter mile from Bates Road. At the same time, the 4Runner being driven by Morales was traveling south on the roadway. Following Lucero northbound at a high rate of speed was the Sorrento driven by Mitchell, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators determined that the Sorrento struck the rear of the Escape, causing both Lucero and Mitchell to lose control. While the Escape crossed the southbound lane, it came to a final rest on the west shoulder of U.S. 17/92. The Sorrento, however, crossed into the other direction of travel and violently hit the 4Runner in an angled head-on collision, the sheriff’s office said.


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