An 80-year-old woman died Tuesday after a car crash on South Florida Avenue a little north of Shepherd Road that appeared to have been caused by a medical episode.
The crash happened about 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the Mulberry woman was driving a 1997 Toyota Corolla south on Florida Avenue toward Shepherd Road when it seemed she had a medical episode.
The Toyota crashed into the front passenger side of a 2014 Toyota attempting to turn left over the southbound lanes to enter a business plaza there. The woman’s vehicle then crossed the grass shoulder of the road into the parking lot of the Pop-Shelf store, 6735 S Florida Ave., hitting a parked and unoccupied car before stopping.
There were no signs of evasive measures or braking by the Corolla, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Mulberry woman, whose identity was not released, was declared dead at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
Contrary to online rumors, PCSO spokeswoman Carrie Horstman said there were no pedestrians involved in the accident.