LAKE WALES, FL – An Auburndale man who stepped out of his garbage truck to direct a motorist around his vehicle was struck and killed by a pickup truck early Friday morning in Lake Wales.
According to the Lake Wales Police Department, 60-year-old Gary Dewayne Mitchell of Auburndale was operating a Republic Services trash truck when he stopped along 1st Street near Emerald Avenue at approximately 6:11 a.m. Mitchell exited the truck to direct a motorist traveling behind him to go around his vehicle.
While Mitchell was outside the truck, a 2019 Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck driven by Jacob Trinidad Lopez of Lake Wales was traveling northbound on 1st Street when it struck Mitchell.
The crash occurred before sunrise, while it was still dark outside. It remains unclear whether Mitchell was wearing reflective clothing or other high-visibility safety gear at the time of the collision.
Mitchell was transported to AdventHealth Lake Wales, where he later died from his injuries.
The Lake Wales Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. Authorities emphasized that the findings are preliminary and additional information may be released as the investigation progresses.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is encouraged to contact the Lake Wales Police Department or Heartland Crime Stoppers.
SOURCE: LAKE WALES PRESS RELEASE
