FL Man Dies After Lemon Juice Tanker Spill, Crash In CA

LAKE WALES, FL — A 66-year-old Florida man died Monday after suffering injuries in an overturned tanker crash near a Cactus City rest stop in Southern California nearly one week earlier.

Joel Grimes of Lake Wales was identified as the victim who died from his injuries after the crash, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau.

Authorities have not said if Grimes was the driver of the truck that crashed.

But reports from CalFire and California Highway Patrol said one person was injured in the accident, and was believed to be the driver.

Officers responded to a call about an overturned 40-foot big rig tanker hauling lemon juice on Interstate 10 at 6:45 a.m. Feb. 14. There, they found the truck blocking eastbound lanes, according to California Highway Patrol's Indio station.

Grimes was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, where he was pronounced dead at 12:49 p.m. five days later, according to the Riverside County coroner. His name was released after notification of next of kin.