A 27-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle while pushing a shopping cart in the inside northbound lane of U.S. 98 North in Lakeland early Tuesday morning, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office, in a Tuesday afternoon news release, said the crash occurred shortly before 6 a.m. near Mann Road, just north of Marcum Road, and when first responders arrived, they found Marcus Sullivan, 27, of Lakeland dead.
Detectives said evidence and witness statements indicated that Sullivan was struck from behind by a silver 2011 Honda CRV as he pushed a grocery cart near the highway median.
The driver of the Honda, who was not identified by the Sheriff’s Office, was not injured. Detectives said it was dark and cloudy at the time of the crash, with no street lighting, and only a moderate amount of light from local businesses. Sullivan was wearing a dark shirt and light-colored pants.
The investigation shut down part of the highway for about three hours. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office said it does not seem likely that the driver will be cited or charged.