A Lakeland Motorcyclist Killed In Crash With Patrol Car On I-4: Troopers

POLK COUNTY, FL — A 52-year-old Lakeland man was killed Monday night when a Florida Highway trooper and a truck carrying a trailer both hit him as he drove his motorcycle alone Interstate - 4 Monday evening, Florida Highway Patrol said.

The 30-year old deputy of Tampa assisted a road construction crew as they installed a lane closure for highway repairs. Following the roadwork help, he pulled his patrol car onto I-4 westbound at about 7:31 p.m. near State Road 559, investigators said. A 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by the Lakeland victim drove on the inside lane the same time the trooper pulled into that lane, deputies said. The officer's car hit the motorcyclist from behind causing him to fly off his motorcycle into the center lane where a tractor trailer from South Carolina traveled and ran over him, detectives said.

He was pronounced dead at the crash, according to officials. Both the officer and the tractor trailer stopped following the crash and participated with investigators.

FHP told Patch that more information will be released when the investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol is complete.

*FHP will not release the names of victims due to Marsy's Law.