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Driver faces DUI manslaughter charge after fatal crash in Polk County, troopers say

Crash occurred on Interstate 4

Driver faces DUI manslaughter charge after fatal crash in Polk County, troopers say (Florida Highway Patrol)

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A driver was arrested and will face a charge of DUI manslaughter after their involvement in a fatal crash early Sunday along Interstate 4 in Polk County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the fatal crash happened at 4:10 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Intestate 4.

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According to a crash report, a sedan, being driven by a 31-year-old Lakeland woman, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 in the outside lane, approaching Galloway Road.

At the same time, a second sedan, being driven by a 36-year-old Winter Haven woman, was traveling eastbound on Interstate 4 in front of the first sedan.

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According to the report, the first sedan “overtook and collided with the rear of” the second sedan. As a result, the crash caused the second sedan to rotate and overturn onto the south shoulder of the interstate, where the driver was ejected and was pronounced dead.

The first sedan also traveled to a rest on the south shoulder, troopers said.

According to the report, troopers later arrested the driver of the first sedan – identified as Quarpaesha Raquel Prather – for DUI manslaughter.

Driver faces DUI manslaughter charge after fatal crash in Polk County, troopers say (Florida Highway Patrol)

Prather was taken to the Polk County Jail, troopers said.

Note: Due to the information provided, this map depicts the general area of this crash and not necessarily its exact location.


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Jacob joined ClickOrlando.com in 2022. He spent 19 years at the Orlando Sentinel, mostly as a photojournalist and video journalist, before joining Spectrum News 13 as a web editor and digital journalist in 2021.

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Brandon, a UCF grad, joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021. Before joining News 6, Brandon worked at WDBO.

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