Winter Haven, FL : Lake Region High School freshman struck and killed by three vehicles in Polk on Wednesday morning, January 21, 2015
A 15-year-old student of Lake Region High in Eagle Lake was killed Wednesday morning while walking to school.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Codey Means was hit by three vehicles while trying to cross southbound U.S. 17 south of Winter Lake Road around 6 a.m.
Deputies said Means tried to cross the road away from two crosswalks and darted into the path of a 1999 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck that heading south in the outside lane.
The driver of the truck, 48-year-old Juan Camacho of Kissimmee, took evasive action, but the driver's side of the truck struck the boy.
Means was then struck by two other southbound vehicles: a 2-door Chevy driven by Taunja Moore, 48, of Winter Haven and a Chevy pickup truck driven by Gregory Crather, 54, of Winter Haven.
All of the drivers and other passersby stopped to aid the boy, who died at the scene, said Polk County Sheriff's Spokesperson Carrie Horstman.
"It's very upsetting to everyone involved," Horstman said. "The family members, the deputies. In this situation, drivers helped render aid to the student. We're grateful they stopped. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do for him but they did try everything."
Everyone said the same thing about Codey. He was one of the good kids at school.
"He didn't start nothing with nobody. Was always funny. He was just cool,” said Chris Biggs, a friend.
"He wouldn't really try to fight anybody or do anything bad," said Andrew Rodriquez, a friend.
"Send your condolences to his family,” said Keisha Elien, a friend. “To lose a kid that's only 15. He had his whole life ahead of him."
The lanes were closed shortly after the crash, which happened just after 6 a.m. Deputies directed traffic around the crash, which is also impacted northbound traffic as well.
A crisis team was dispatched to the school to assist students and staff.
Source :
Boy, 15, killed trying to cross U.S. 17 in Eagle Lake