POLK COUNTY, Fla. - A devastating crash involving seven cars on Interstate 4 killed four people, including a child, in Polk County.
The crash occurred about 8 a.m. Tuesday near Kathleen Road as a 1999 Ford F-250 was headed east on I-4, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
A trooper’s report describes what happened next:
The F-250’s driver lost control and collided with another truck traveling in the same direction.
The F-250 then entered the westbound lanes and ran head-on into a Chevrolet van.
The F-250 went airborne and its undercarriage hit another vehicle. The truck overturned and came to rest on the shoulder of westbound I-4. Its driver was thrown from the vehicle during the crash and killed.
The Chevrolet van the F-250 struck went across westbound traffic and was hit by another truck.
Two other vehicles hit debris from the wreck.
The westbound lanes were closed for several hours as crews investigated and worked to clear the wreckage.
The Florida Highway Patrol told Action News they are investigating whether a driver was "playing or racing" another car when it lost control, causing the crash.
Fatalities:
Cassie Ann Gatcha, 12, from Clermont
Leonardo Mathieu-Turallas, 59, of Alpharetta, GA
Driver of 1999 Ford F250 | Unidentified 22-year-old from Haines City
Driver of 2007 Chevy Van | Unidentified 55-year-old from Venezuela
