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Orlando man killed in crash with semitruck that shut down US 17-92 in Polk County

Driver of car found dead, deputies say

Polk County Sheriff's Office (Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – US 17-92 was shut down in both directions north of Davenport Thursday afternoon as Polk County deputies investigated a fatal crash that left one driver dead, according to the sheriff’s office.

The crash involved a car and a semitruck, first reported around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Ernie Caldwell Boulevard and US 17-92 North, a sheriff’s office Facebook post reads. The driver of the car — identified as 56-year-old Leonardo Pereira, of Orlando — was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said.

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According to an update Friday, Pereira was traveling east on Ernie Caldwell Boulevard as the semitruck — driven by a 43-year-old Kissimmee man — headed south on US 17-92. Pereira tried to turn left onto US 17-92 north, failing to stop at the intersection and pulling into the semitruck’s path, deputies said.

The front of the semitruck struck the driver’s side of Pereira’s car, the update states. The driver of the semitruck and his passenger were uninjured in the crash, deputies said.

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US 17-92 was reopened after about four hours, but an investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.

Check back with News 6 for any updates.


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