Lakeland Police Investigate Traffic Fatality

<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Lakeland Police responded to 2100 Griffin Road on July 24, 2010, after reports of a traffic crash that occurred at approximately 2:01 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The investigation indicated that a 2004 Nissen and 2004 Honda motorcycle were both travelling eastbound on Griffin Road in the outside lane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The vehicle struck the motorcycle from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>It appeared the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The driver of the motorcycle, Kenneth B. Spooner, age 67, was pronounced dead on the scene by EMS.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The vehicle flipped and came to final rest on the roof after travelling approximately ¼ of a mile from the scene of the accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>The driver of the vehicle, Damian Kyle Hernandez, DOB:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>11/9/87, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160;</span>fled on foot and was apprehended by Officer Aaron Peterman and his K9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Hernandez was arrested for Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Without Rendering Aid (F3), Battery on a Police Dog (M1), and Resisting Arrest Without Violence. (M1). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160;&#0160;</span>Hernandez was treated at LRMC for minor, non-life threatening injuries, and then transported to Polk County Jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The passenger of the vehicle, Jeremy Andrew Edinger, age 24, received minor, non life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160;</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><strong><span style="COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&#0160;</span></o:p></span></strong></p><strong><span style="FONT-FAMILY: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,&#39;serif&#39;; COLOR: #000066; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span>Media inquiries should be directed to Sergeant Terri Smith, 863.834.6917.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&#0160; </span></span></strong>