POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 12-year-old boy from Plant City was killed shortly after midnight during a vehicle crash in Mulberry, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Three others were injured, including a 14-year-old boy.
Sheriff officials said a Nissan pickup truck pulling a trailer, driven by Andres Orozco, 42, was traveling south on Coronet Road when it pulled into the path of a Toyota Corolla, driven by Marion Martinez, 30, going west on SR 60.
According to the release, Andres and the 12-year-old were thrown from the truck, while the Corolla caught fire. Officials said bystanders were able to pull the 14-year-old from the pickup truck.
Polk County deputies and fire rescue found the 12-year-old boy unresponsive in the middle of the highway. He was airlifted to St. Jospeh Hospital in Tampa where he died from his injuries.
Orozco was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for a broken neck and leg and the 14-year-old was transported for a broken collar bone. Orozco is listed in critical but stable condition. Martinez was also transported to Lakeland Regional for a broken leg.
After Martinez was released, he was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter, 2 counts of DUI crash with serious injuries, DUI, and driving without a valid license.
Deputies said no one in the truck was where a seat belt, however, Martinez was.
The roadway was shut down for nearly five hours while PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit investigated the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.