LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland traffic accident turned into a criminal arrest Tuesday morning after a driver struck an ambulance transporting a patient and then fled the area.
The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026, on Harden Boulevard near the intersection of Ariana Street. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the ambulance was traveling north on Harden Boulevard and was not operating in emergency mode at the time of the collision.
A white Volkswagen Jetta traveling south conducted a U-turn directly in front of the oncoming ambulance. After completing the turn, the Jetta entered the lane occupied by the ambulance, causing the two vehicles to collide. The driver of the Jetta did not stop after the impact and left the scene…