Man Killed, Truck Flips In Crash At US 98/Rockridge Road

LAKELAND, FL – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a collision between a semi-truck and a Nissan Altima that left one person dead.

The crash occurred Thursday, May 17, around 2:45 p.m. at U.S. 98 and Rockridge Road in Lakeland.

The Nissan driver, Charles Kimbrough Jr., 59, of Creekwood Run, Lakeland, had just left the Circle K store at that intersection and was headed east on Rockridge on his way home.

Kimbrough had a green light at the intersection and was proceeding ahead when a semi-truck belonging to Saddle Creek Corp. heading north on U.S. 98 failed to stop at the red light and struck the Nissan.

The semi proceeded into the nearby gas station parking lot after the impact and flipped onto its side.

Kimbrough died at the scene. The truck driver, Charles Ervin, 41, of Valdosta, Georgia, was not injured.

The roadway in that area was shut down for approximately four hours.

Image via Polk Sheriff