Pleas for safety improvements after fatal crash claims life of volunteer chaplain
EAGLE LAKE, Fla. - A Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer chaplain died Wednesday morning after deputies say a dump truck driver ran a red light and struck his vehicle at an Eagle Lake intersection.
Eagle Lake fatal crash
What we know:
Polk County Fire Rescue volunteer Chaplain Hector Cruz was leaving a fire station visit Wednesday morning when a dump truck hit his vehicle.
According to deputies, the 30-year-old dump truck driver was traveling south on Highway 17 and ran a red light.
Previous coverage: Polk County Fire Rescue mourns volunteer chaplain killed in crash
Cruz died in the collision, and the full investigative report on the crash will take months to complete.
History of dangerous collisions
The backstory:
Dauphne Railey has owned Dauphne's Hair Salon at the corner of Highway 17 South and West Eagle Avenue for the past decade.
She said collisions happen at the intersection once a month or every five to six weeks.
"This intersection is so bad. I've been preaching, preaching, preaching. How many people have to die right here before somebody goes and does something?" Railey said. "We hear it all the time and nobody does anything."
FDOT intersection crash data
By the numbers:
The Florida Department of Transportation reported 19 crashes at this intersection between July 1, 2021, and July 1.
None of those prior incidents resulted in deadly or severe injuries, according to FDOT.
Of those 19 crashes, two involved non-severe injuries, five involved possible injuries, and 12 resulted only in property damage.
Potential traffic warning systems
What we don't know:
It is unclear if the state will add new safety measures like flashing lights or a "Red Light Ahead" sign, which Railey suggested could help drivers realize a traffic signal is approaching.
An FDOT spokesperson stated that while no engineering improvements are currently programmed, the agency routinely reviews location data and traffic patterns.
This helps determine where future safety studies or adjustments may be needed.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Carla Bayron, who requested crash data from the Florida Department of Transportation and interviewed a local business owner, as well as details provided by local deputies.