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2 boys die after mother intentionally drives into Florida lake, police say

Ortilla Zamora, 35, also dies after driving car into Polk County lake

Police lights (File) (WJXT)

LAKELAND, Fla. – A 35-year-old mother and her two sons were killed after she intentionally crashed a car into a Polk County lake last week, according to police.

Ortilla Zamora and the boys, 4 and 9, were located around 5:26 a.m. on Dec. 30 in a car submerged along the west side of Lake Wire, police said.

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Officers said they found the vehicle about 15 feet offshore. Crews with Lakeland Fire Department were called to search and remove the vehicle, according to a news release.

Investigators said it was not a traffic crash, adding there were no signs of trauma on any of the three people onboard.

Following an autopsy by the Polk County Medical Examiner, Lakeland police said in a statement that investigators believe Zamora “intentionally drove her vehicle into Lake Wire the morning of December 30, 2022.”

Zamora’s family members told detectives that she had potentially been experiencing mental health problems in the days leading up to the crash, according to police.

Zamora and the two children were from the Wauchula area, police said, adding it was unknown what they were doing in Lakeland.

Lakeland police are still investigating the deaths.


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