Traffic Fatality
UPDATE: On May 31, 2020, at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash involving two vehicles near the 4100 block of New Tampa Highway. According to reports, a 2002 Buick was traveling eastbound, and a 2017 Toyota Camry was traveling westbound. As both vehicles approached each other, the Toyota left its lane of travel, entered the eastbound lane of travel and crashed into the Buick. The vehicles collided in a near head-on collision manner.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Unit, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on scene and began to provide life-saving measures. The driver of the Toyota, and the driver and rear passenger of the Buick, were transported to Lakeland Regional Health. A child secured in the back seat of the Buick was airlifted to a Tampa hospital with minor injuries. The front seat passenger of the Buick was not transported.
While on scene, officers were notified that the driver of the Buick, later identified as Mary N. Raulerson, passed away at the hospital due to injuries sustained in the crash.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down to allow the unit to photograph, map, and measure for any follow-up investigations.
If anyone has any additional information regarding the crash, please contact Traffic Homicide Investigator Tyler Anderson at 863.834.2553 or tyler.anderson@lakelandgov.net.
The operator of the Toyota was identified as:
Mariela Garcia
Age 22
Valrico, Florida
The Driver of the Buick was identified as:
Mary N. Raulerson
Age 55
Lakeland, Florida
The Front Passenger of the Buick was identified as:
Andrew Raulerson
Age 19
Lakeland, Florida
The Rear Passenger of the Buick was identified as:
Mary Raulerson
Age 34
Lakeland, Florida
There was also a four-year-old child passenger in the Buick.