A 49-year-old Lakeland man was killed in a head-on collision on State Road 33 north of Polk City late Saturday night.
The crash happened a little before midnight about two miles south of the Polk-Lake County line. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Hector Jose Battle, 49, of Lakeland was driving south on SR 33 in a 2021 Toyota Corolla when, for unknown reasons, a northbound Mazda CX9 driven by Jonathan David Rivera, 34, of Orlando crossed the center line and struck him head-on.
First responders found Battle dead in his car when they arrived. Rivera was found with serious injuries, including broken ribs and a fractured wrist. He was removed from the car and taken to a local hospital.
The roadway was closed for approximately four hours. The Sheriff’s Office said the crash remains under investigation.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 49-year-old Lakeland man dies in head-on crash on State Road 33