POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Three people are dead in a two-vehicle car crash in Polk County, deputies say.
Officials say one of the cars was engulfed in flames.
It happened in Poinciana at the intersection of Marigold Ave. and Bell Tower Crossing East at about 7:20 p.m. Tuesday. The roadways in that area are shut down until further notice.
Sheriff Grady Judd described the accident as "absolutely horrific."
A deputy reportedly saw a red sports car speeding by so fast, that when he tried to pull the car over, it was already out of sight. Moments later, that deputy spotted the crash.
Sheriff Judd said it appears the sports car crossed the center line, slamming head-on into a sedan with two people inside. The force of the collision was so great that the speeding car burst into flames.
The driver of the red Nissan 350Z was Emmanuel Lashawn Macedo Semedo, 19. The two people in the other vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, were identified as Johana Martinez Rodriguez, 45, and Ramon Antonio De Jesus Cintron, 43.
That deputy did jump into action, pulling the driver of the speeding car out of the vehicle to perform CPR, but it was too late. That driver and the other two people in the sedan were killed.
Authorities are asking for the driver of a gray pickup truck, unknown make and model, that was seen speeding prior to the accident to contact detectives. It's unknown if the truck was involved in the accident, it was several cars behind the Nissan, but authorities are asking that driver to come forward.
Any other witnesses are also asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.
