A man and a woman killed from a car accident in Lakeland Friday have been identified as Juanita Paulino, of Tampa, who died at the scene, and Samuel T. Thomas, of Lakeland.
Friday morning, around 10:20 a.m. a Freightliner tractor pulling a trailer, driven by Tywaun Jamel Blake Burgess, 30, of Orlando, was stopped facing north on Sheldon Road about 200 feet north of Mohr Road in the left lane.
Burgess was waiting to back up into a driveway on Sheldon Road.
Thomas, 38, was driving a 2012 Kia Rio north on Sheldon. He hit the rear of the Freightliner, which is owned by Quirch Foods Co. in Medley. Paulino was riding in the ride front passenger’s seat of the car.
The man was taken to St. Joseph’s Main Hospital where he died of his injuries. A second passenger in the car, Christino Paulino, was taken to St. Joseph’s Main with non-life threatening injuries.
Deputies said there are no charges at this time pending further investigation.
