A young child died Thursday afternoon in a fiery single-car accident near Lake Parker in Lakeland.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said a 30-year-old Winter Haven man was driving a white Kia sedan west on Broadway Street, approaching Lake Parker Drive East with his two young children. The driver ran through the intersection and struck a tree near the lake, and the car caught fire.
The Sheriff’s Office said the driver and a witness attempted to pull the two children from the backseat of the car. One was successfully removed, but the other child died in the fire.
The father and the surviving child were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. The witness who helped at the scene was also taken to the hospital for burns.
PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives respond to all fatal crashes. They are investigating the crash.