Two People From Polk Killed in SR 471 Crash

State Road 471, Sumter County, Florida.  A 2000 Jeep SUV and a 2007 GMC pickup truck collided on SR 471 on Sunday evening.  The accident occurred when the Jeep SUV left the road for an unknown reason, overcorrected, and went into the nortbound lane.  The SUV was going south about 8 miles south of SR 50.  The Jeep was driven by Kodi Chamberlain of Lakeland, Florida.  Roger Higby, 45, of Bartow, Florida, was a passenger in the SUV.  Both Chamberlain and Higby were killed.  The pickup was driven by Floyd Sloan, 73, with Caron Sloan, 73, of Bartow, Florida, as a passenger.  Both Floyd and Caron Sloan were transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.  The front of the truck struck the side of the SUV and both Chamberlain and HIgby were ejected.  Neither Chamberlain nor Higby were wearing seatbelts.  Both Floyd and Caron Sloan were wearing their seatbelts.  The accident happened at approxiamtely 5 p.m.

This tragic accident happened due to the negligence of the SUV driver.  Drivers will oftentimes overcorrect after leaving the roadway.  The proper way to handle the situation is to stay off the roadway, reduce speed, and come back onto the roadway slowly and when there is not oncoming traffic.  While it is sad enough that the two young men died as a result of this accident, the SUV driver could have easily taken the lives of the pickup truck.  If you or a loved one has been injured in the greater Central Florida area, please contact a personal injury lawyer serving Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Haines City, Davenport, or Polk County, Florida.  A consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers is free.