Lakeland Woman Charged With Manslaughter After Fatal Polk Crash: FHP

POLK COUNTY, FL — A Lakeland woman was charged with manslaughter while driving under the influence following a fatal car crash in Polk County on Sunday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Quarpaesha R. Prather, 31, was charged with DUI manslaughter and taken to the Polk County Jail after state police said her car struck another driven by a 36-year-old Winter Haven woman on State Road 400.

According to police, the crash happened around 4:10 a.m. near Galloway Road as both cars were driving east on the highway. Police said the vehicle driven by Prather rear-ended the victim's car, causing it to rotate and flip onto the road's south shoulder. The victim was ejected from her vehicle and suffered fatal injuries, police said.

A 44-year-old Mulberry man riding in the victim's car suffered minor injuries, according to the crash report.

Prather was not injured in the crash, police said.

The crash remains under investigation.