Two Haines City Passengers Killed During Semi-Truck Crash on U.S. 27

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on May 9, 2023

Local authorities have launched an investigation into a collision between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle that claimed the lives of two individuals early Monday morning on U.S. Highway 27 in Polk County.

Initial auto accident details from officers with the Lake Wales Police Department indicate that it was shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023, when 40-year-old Aljerume Brooks was driving a white 2017 Cadillac in the northbound direction of U.S Highway 27 with 23-year-old Javarcea Morton and 27-year-old Gary Faniel Jr. as passengers.

Preliminary reports state that as the Cadillac carrying the three Haines City residents approached the upcoming intersection with Washington Avenue, the driver of the car failed to yield for the red light controlling his lane of traffic and crashed into a semi-truck owned by Kalmar Industries – a subsidiary of Florida’s Natural, which is based in Lake Wales.

Emergency responders in Polk County including members of the Lake Wales Police Department were immediately dispatched to the scene of the two-vehicle crash. Upon their arrival, they sadly discovered that the two passengers in the Cadillac had passed away from fatal injuries sustained during the collision. The 40-year-old driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.

The 62-year-old driver of the semi-truck, Frostproof resident Dewey Hadden, was unharmed.

This section of U.S. Highway 27 was closed for over 6 hours while traffic homicide detectives and accident clean-up crews performed their respective tasks.

The Lake Wales Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with this deadly semi-truck accident. If you have any information, please call (863) 678-4223 or the Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.

Although it is unclear at this time why the driver of the Cadillac ran the red light in this particular situation, there are at least a couple of alternative possibilities to consider, including a sudden unexpected medical issue with the driver or perhaps a mechanical malfunction from the vehicle itself. For these reasons and many others, it is imperative that you seek out experienced legal representation if you’ve been involved in a serious accident.

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Since 1977, Polk County wrongful death lawyer James O. Cunningham has been compassionately representing the families of victims who have been killed during an auto accident. If you would like to schedule a free 30-minute case evaluation, please contact our office at 877-FL-INJURY.

James O. Cunningham

Since 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.