Crime & Safety
Woman Seriously Injured After Polk Parkway Crash
A 77-year-old woman was seriously injured following a Tuesday crash that sent her SUV plummeting off the Polk Parkway.
LAKELAND, FL — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a Tuesday evening crash on the Polk Parkway that sent a 77-year-old Lakeland woman to the hospital with serious injuries.
According to troopers, Ruth Windham was heading east on the parkway in the outside lane around 5 p.m. Dec. 20. At that time, Melissa G. Woo, 32, of Winter Haven was eastbound in the inside lane, next to Windham’s Buick SUV.
Troopers say Windham’s SUV entered Woo’s lane and struck the right front of the woman’s Nissan SUV. After the initial impact, Windham’s Buick rotated, drove over the guardrail and landed on Cleveland Heights Boulevard below.
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Windham suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Woo was not injured.
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Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. Troopers say alcohol was not involved in the crash.
Image via Shutterstock
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