Florida Dad Killed Teaching Son To Drive

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A 57-year-old Florida dad died Sunday afternoon after his PT Cruiser was struck head-on while he was teaching his teenage son to drive along Cypress Gardens Boulevard just west of U.S. Highway 27 in Polk County. Sandeep Kumar Beri was pronounced dead at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.

Beri's 15-year-old son, Nick, who was driving at the time with a Florida learner's permit, was also taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. See also Phony GoFundMe Shut Down For FL Dad Killed Teaching Son To Drive

Beri's 7-year-old daughter, Sophia, was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando because of her age and was listed in stable condition. She suffered minor injuries and overall body pain from the crash. She had been riding in the backseat.

Scott Wilder of the Polk County Sheriff's Office said the crash occurred around 11:58 a.m. when another driver, identified as 22-year-old Nannette Cruz Garcia of Orlando, jumped a median strip from the opposite direction in her 2003 Toyota Corolla.

"At the time of the crash, Nick Beri was traveling westbound on Cypress Gardens Boulevard in the outside lane of travel," Wilder said. "Both vehicles left the roadway and came to final rest in the culvert on the north side of the roadway."

Garcia was taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in critical condition. Traffic was shut down along Cypress Gardens Boulevard until shortly after 4 p.m.

"It has been determined that Garcia was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash," said Wilder. "All the occupants of the PT cruiser were properly seat belted in and airbags deployed in both vehicles."

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said his investigators were attempting to determine what caused Garcia to lose control of her Toyota and strike the PT Cruiser, which had a sticker that said "Student Driver" below the rear window.

"I was at the scene this afternoon," said Judd. "This was just a devastating crash. It is a reminder for all of us to drive safely and remain aware of our surroundings while driving. Our sympathies and prayers go out to the Beri family for their loss."