POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A two‑vehicle crash in northeast Polk County left a 41‑year‑old Osceola County motorcyclist on Saturday night, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a news release, deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were called at 9:02 p.m. to westbound Ronald Reagan Parkway, just west of Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Loughman.
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Traffic homicide detectives said a motorcyclist was traveling west on Ronald Reagan Parkway when an eastbound Mercedes attempted a U‑turn at Thousand Oaks Boulevard to head west. During the maneuver, the car entered the motorcycle’s path, and the vehicles collided.
The motorcyclist, identified as Reinaldo Lopez Jr., of Poinciana, as pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies said he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The other vehicle involved was a 2015 Mercedes‑Benz sedan driven by 30‑year‑old Davenport woman, deputies said. A passenger, identified as a 25-year old Winter Garden woman, was also in the car. Both women were wearing seat belts and were not injured.
The roadway was closed for about three hours. Investigators said speed does not appear to have been a factor, and criminal charges are not expected, though the investigation remains open.