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Polk County Chain-Reaction Crash Takes Life Of Young Boy

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 6, 2015

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a 2-year-old boy was tragically killed when the car he was riding in was involved in a four-vehicle crash on Rockridge Road in Polk County, Florida on October 28th. Deputies said that several vehicles had stopped to allow a school bus to let children off in the northbound lane of Rockridge Road.

The chain reaction occurred when a box truck being driven by Jose Martinez failed to stop and slammed into the back of a Mazda sedan. The 2-year-old, Jowell Velazquez, was in the back seat of the Mazda, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy’s parents, Israel Velazquez and Joshlynn Lopez, were seated in the front of the Mazda, and were both injured in the crash.

After striking the Mazda, the box truck continued traveling north and also struck a Toyota Tundra, which then hit a Chevy Tahoe. The school bus was not struck and no children from the bus were injured. When Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene, the passengers in the Mazda were trapped and had to be pulled from the wreckage by officers, they were then immediately transferred to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Velazquez was treated and released. Lopez was admitted and is in stable, but critical, condition.

There were no other injuries, and the crash remains under investigation. The box truck is owned by Fast Delivery Enterprise and was hauling mail for the U.S. Postal Service when the crash occurred. Officials said there was no indication that Martinez was impaired at the time of the crash, and they are still working to determine the cause of the crash.

Pile-ups and chain-reaction accidents such as these nearly always result in serious injuries, and frequent fatalities, but there is nothing more tragic than the loss of a child. The death of a young one is made all the more painful when it is the result of negligence on behalf of another person or entity.

Offering compassionate legal representation, our firm strives to hold negligent people and companies responsible for their actions when tragic accidents such as these occur. We work alongside professional accident reconstructionists to help us determine the reason for the accident and get all the details necessary to get our clients the largest settlement possible for their injuries and losses. While no losses can reverse the pain of losing a loved one or child, they can help decrease stress from financial obligations during an incredibly difficult time.

At the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A., we strive to help families through this painful time and respond sensitively to their needs. Our experienced injury attorneys work diligently to help family members who have lost loved ones due to the negligent or intentional actions of another. To learn how our firm can help you and your family after a fatal car accident or other tragedy, contact our law firm today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

James O. Cunningham

James O. CunninghamSince 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.

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