POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Two vehicles hit a Lakeland woman around 2:20 a.m. Thursday morning, less than a minute apart. Both drivers left the scene and didn’t stop to help, according to deputies.
- One killed, one injured in hit-and-run crashes
- Woman hit twice by two different vehicles
- Man hit, injured while rendering aid to victim
Polk County deputies said Kelli Black, 40, died as a result of her injuries.
Investigators say Black was riding a scooter on N. Galloway Road, just north of the railroad tracks and south of Kathleen Road, when she was first hit.
Witnesses reported recognized the vehicle of the first driver, Corey Wesley Jones, 20, of Lakeland. Also known by his rapper performing name "DB da Kid," Jones's SUV is wrapped in pictures of him.
Jones turned himself in to authorities around 3 p.m. Thursday. He was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury and reckless driving with serious bodily injury.
Jones was released on a $6,000 bond late Thursday.
Army soldier injured while helping
After Black was hit the first time, deputies said Private First Class Kalen Lawson stopped to help her.
“He said he grabbed her hand and she said, 'don’t leave me,' and he said 'are you ok? are you ok? we’re getting help,” explained Lawson’s mother Tonya.
But while he was doing that, a pickup truck came by and hit the both of them, according to deputies. Lawson was transported to an area hospital and later had surgery on his broken leg.
Lawson was visiting his family while on leave from Fort Hood. His uncle, Troy Lux, said helping others is his personality.
“That’s the type of man he is. He sees somebody in trouble he’ll help. He’s always been like that since has a little kid,” said Lux.
“It’s frustrating especially just the fact that he’s been here 3 days on leave. He came home to visit his family and something like this happens,” said Lux.
His mother he was more upset about the woman dying than he was about his own health and broken leg.
“He was very upset about that. He was like 'Mom, I tried to help her, I tried to help her. I did my best.'”
Lawson asked for prayers for her family. Doctors are telling her he will be able to walk again and should leave the hospital in a few days. She said she’s also praying for Black’s family.
Surveillance video from a church nearby caught both of the crashes on camera.
Still searching for second driver
Polk Sheriff Grady Judd called on residents to help his deputies find the second vehicle involved in the incident.
“I’m just shocked," Judd said. "I’m just shocked that two people, boom boom boom, boom boom boom,just run over them and leave them for dead in the road for dead by themselves."
"Come on man," he continued. "Somebody in the community knows who was driving that white pickup truck."
Deputies are still looking for the driver of the second vehicle. They believe they were driving a white or light colored F-150 pickup truck.
If you have any information, call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or 1-800-226-TIPS.
