WINTER HAVEN – A crash involving two vehicles shut down a section of Ave. T, NW for just over an hour today after passengers were ejected from the back of a pickup truck. All injuries appear to be non-life-threatening at this time.

On March 1, 2016 at approximately 11:30 a.m., a 1998 black Nissan pickup truck driven by 43 year-old Mateena Mosley (414 Senate St, Apt. C, Auburndale) was waiting to exit the parking area of the Salvation Army, located at 320 Ave. T, NW. Traffic in the outside lane traveling eastbound was stopped. Mosley was preparing to turn left to travel westbound on Ave. T NW towards Havendale Blvd. A driver in the eastbound lane waved Mosley out, unaware that there was traffic approaching. As Mosley left the parking lot, she crossed over to the inside lane and into the path of a 2007 tan Saturn driven by 80 year-old Robert Smith (1115 Lacosta Lane, Winter Haven).

Smith swerved in an attempt to avoid the crash, but the Nissan struck the front of his car causing the passengers in the bed of the truck to be ejected from the impact. The passengers in the bed of the truck, 52 year-old Alice Summer (3025 Ernest Dr., Auburndale) and 35 year-old Donna Ann McLemore (3301 Maine Ave., Lakeland) were thrown from the bed of the truck, landing in the roadway. Summer was taken by ambulance to Winter Haven Hospital and McLemore was transported by ambulance to Lakeland Regional Health. A passenger in the front seat of the truck, 43 year-old Tommette Evans (3527 Lake Alfred Rd., Winter Haven) suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winter Haven Hospital. Drivers of both cars were uninjured and did not require medical attention.

Mosley was cited for Failure To Yield Right of Way. The roadway was opened back up at approximately 12:45 p.m.