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Massachusetts couple dies in front of young daughter while on vacation in Florida
LAKELAND, FL – A Massachusetts couple has died right in front of their young child.
On Wednesday, at approximately 10:49 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash involving a white Toyota Yaris and two pedestrians at the intersection of South Florida Avenue and Imperial Boulevard (3437 South Florida Avenue). Just prior to the crash, the Yaris was headed southbound on South Florida Avenue and two pedestrians were attempting to cross South Florida Avenue eastbound in the crosswalk. Both pedestrians were impacted by the front of the Yaris.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Units, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene to begin life-saving measures. The two pedestrians were pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Yaris remained at the scene and was not injured. The roadway was shut down for approximately 4 hours to process the scene for the ongoing investigation.
The pedestrians involved in the crash have been identified as 54-year-old Ronald Jeanbaptiste and 46-year-old Yanique Pierre. The couple was visiting Lakeland from Massachusetts and staying at a nearby hotel with their seven-year-old daughter. The child was a few feet away from the couple when they attempted to cross the roadway, and was not injured. The child has since been placed in the care of family members.
Jeanbaptiste was the pastor of Great Commission Baptist Church in Everett. Pierre was the owner of Kicha Unisex Hair Salon.
Preliminary evidence and witness statements indicate the driver of the Yaris had a green light while traveling through the intersection of Imperial Boulevard. There were no environmental contributors to the crash and the driver of the Yaris did not exhibit obvious indications of impairment at the scene. At this time, no charges have been filed or citations issued.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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Sue
August 11, 2024 at 8:31 am
Having lived in Mass for many years I know what happened. You see, in Mass the pedestrians have the right of way! This driver would be prosecuted. What’s the point of having cross walks and not feeling safe! You are fined in Mass for crossing without using the crosswalk.
Carol Gould
August 11, 2024 at 9:25 am
True but you’re not allowed to cross when the driver has a green light. That’s called suicide. Why else would annyone deliberately walk in front of a moving vehicle? Apparently half the people in Florida aren’t aware of these common sense laws.
Susan Hunter
August 11, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Susan
Will
August 12, 2024 at 6:27 am
This is just typical reaction to idiots being liberal and assuming that their rights override everybody else’s those people were hit because they walked out in front of traffic when they weren’t thinking they’d be with their daughter today if they were thinking, but that’s what happens when you get woke and liberal you stop thinking your brain goes like a sheep walking off a cliff you start to think that you’re entitled you start to think that everything you do is justified because you’re in your own right mind that’s not the way reality works common sense dictates here common sense is not dictated where you follow the leader follow the most Woke and liberal leaders.
It’s sad that child has to remember this.
Joyce
August 12, 2024 at 11:23 am
I am a staunch conservative but what in the world does liberal or conservative have to do with crossing the street?
SEAN
August 12, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Liberals will more than likely expect a vehicle will stop. BECAUSE THEY have ROW. Which is false, they do not!Thank God for saving the child!
Peter
August 12, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Why would anyone deliberately hit someone in their car? Just because they may be right, taking someone’s life and having to pay to repair your car because you are in the right is just plan STUPIDITY
T Finley
August 11, 2024 at 9:42 am
Way to Monday morning quarterback. Either you just don’t like FL or you think you are more informed about the circumstances than the law enforcement who did the investigation and have chosen not to press charges due to the lack of evidence to date.
Anonymous
August 11, 2024 at 10:16 am
It’s called pay attention to what you are doing. Doesn’t matter where you are from. Its like visiting another country… You pay attention to their laws and abide by them. You are supposed to look in both directions and pay attention to the lights before crossing any road. Don’t use the excuse that they are from Mass and they can just walk out into traffic cause that’s what they do there. That’s stupid. Its sad the child lost their parents… But they were not paying attention to what they were doing.
Lissette
August 11, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Very well said. Very true.
Angela Roberts
August 17, 2024 at 1:59 pm
Correctly spoken!
Joni
August 11, 2024 at 11:08 am
Florida law states on the beach pedestrians have the right I f way…however I believe it has to be inside of crosswalks not just crossing anywhere
TWE
August 11, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Nobody knows what happened.common sense you don’t walk out in front of a car. It also was night time a big factor. Nobody knows.👍🏼
Chelle
August 11, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Why wasn’t the kid crossing the street with them? Were they going to let it cross by himself?
Jenn
August 11, 2024 at 6:28 pm
Herself
Sarah
August 12, 2024 at 7:31 pm
Joyce, I was just thinking the exact same thing!! Some people are really out there, and have the nerve to criticize others!!
Judy Brownell
August 14, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Why would they be leaving their child behind when they are crossing? Also why would they have their child out at age 7 at 11:00 pm? Something just doesn’t add up! Fake news?
B J York
August 15, 2024 at 2:09 am
I’m thinking the child may have been in front of them and was not hit, because she was ahead of them, just a guess.