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Around 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, a Polk County School Board bus was stopped on northbound Rockridge Road at J.E.H. Road in Lakeland. The bus was stopped for school children to disembark the bus.
Stopped or stopping behind the bus at that time were:
A black 4-door Mazda car, being driven by 27-year-old Israel Velazquez of Ritter Road in Lakeland;
A gray Toyota Tundra pickup truck, being driven by 56-year-old Ms. Ellis of Timber Run in Dade City;
A green Chevrolet Tahoe, being driven by 17-year-old Ms. Harrison of Rockridge Road in Lakeland;
As these vehicles were stopped or in the process of stopping, a White Hino box truck, being driven by 32-year-old Mr. Martinez of Caribbean Drive in Davenport, for unknown reasons, failed to stop and slammed into the back of the Mazda at highway speeds. This impact pushed the Mazda into the rear of the Toyota Tundra at an angle.
After striking Toyota Tundra, the Mazda was directed off the east side of the roadway coming to a final rest on the east shoulder facing north. The Mazda suffered severe damage and significant intrusion into the rear of the vehicle.
After striking the Mazda, the box truck continued traveling north and also struck the Toyota Tundra, which rotated 90 degrees clockwise until both trucks came to final rest in the northbound lane of travel just south of the intersection.
Prior to coming to a final rest, the Toyota Tundra struck the rear of the Chevy Tahoe, causing minor damage to the rear bumper. The school bus was not struck and no children from the bus were injured.
Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and extricated the victims who were entrapped.
A child, 2-year-old Jowell Velazquez, who was a rear passenger in the Mazda, was declared deceasad at the scene. The driver of the Mazda, Israel Velazquez, and his live-in girlfriend, 27-year-old Joshlynn Lopez, were both transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Velazquez was treated and released. Joshlynn is in stable but critical condition at LRHMC. She is also pregnant, and so far the fetus is okay.
I am a friend of the victim and I too have a son that is 2 yrs old. This story has completely touched my heart! All I can think about is how I could help him. There are no words to say to ease his pain, but WE could join together and donate a small contribution to assist with other needs.
This is a man who is a hard worker, who has made sacrafices in his life to support his family. He travels over an hour to go to work daily. He was building a family with another one on the way. Now one has been taken. The one who would have carried his name.
I know WE all hit bumps in the road and may have bad moments, days or even weeks, but we have the chance to recooperate. With this major set back one could only imagine how much support and time it will take to heal!
Please help this family by donating any amount you could spare... every cent would count.
Stopped or stopping behind the bus at that time were:
A black 4-door Mazda car, being driven by 27-year-old Israel Velazquez of Ritter Road in Lakeland;
A gray Toyota Tundra pickup truck, being driven by 56-year-old Ms. Ellis of Timber Run in Dade City;
A green Chevrolet Tahoe, being driven by 17-year-old Ms. Harrison of Rockridge Road in Lakeland;
As these vehicles were stopped or in the process of stopping, a White Hino box truck, being driven by 32-year-old Mr. Martinez of Caribbean Drive in Davenport, for unknown reasons, failed to stop and slammed into the back of the Mazda at highway speeds. This impact pushed the Mazda into the rear of the Toyota Tundra at an angle.
After striking Toyota Tundra, the Mazda was directed off the east side of the roadway coming to a final rest on the east shoulder facing north. The Mazda suffered severe damage and significant intrusion into the rear of the vehicle.
After striking the Mazda, the box truck continued traveling north and also struck the Toyota Tundra, which rotated 90 degrees clockwise until both trucks came to final rest in the northbound lane of travel just south of the intersection.
Prior to coming to a final rest, the Toyota Tundra struck the rear of the Chevy Tahoe, causing minor damage to the rear bumper. The school bus was not struck and no children from the bus were injured.
Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and extricated the victims who were entrapped.
A child, 2-year-old Jowell Velazquez, who was a rear passenger in the Mazda, was declared deceasad at the scene. The driver of the Mazda, Israel Velazquez, and his live-in girlfriend, 27-year-old Joshlynn Lopez, were both transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Velazquez was treated and released. Joshlynn is in stable but critical condition at LRHMC. She is also pregnant, and so far the fetus is okay.
I am a friend of the victim and I too have a son that is 2 yrs old. This story has completely touched my heart! All I can think about is how I could help him. There are no words to say to ease his pain, but WE could join together and donate a small contribution to assist with other needs.
This is a man who is a hard worker, who has made sacrafices in his life to support his family. He travels over an hour to go to work daily. He was building a family with another one on the way. Now one has been taken. The one who would have carried his name.
I know WE all hit bumps in the road and may have bad moments, days or even weeks, but we have the chance to recooperate. With this major set back one could only imagine how much support and time it will take to heal!
Please help this family by donating any amount you could spare... every cent would count.
Organizer and beneficiary
Israel Velazquez
Beneficiary