Lakeland Police are classifying the vehicle crash on January 3, 2012 at 3955 Drane Field Road as a death investigation. Initially, this incident was reported as an overturned vehicle with injuries. Lakeland Police responded and found a deceased white male, now identified as Clifford Ellison, 36, DOB 12/12/75 in the vehicle.
Witnesses of the crash had observed some sort of commotion within the vehicle just prior to the vehicle crashing. After conducting an investigation, officers learned that there was a second person in the vehicle at the time of the crash that had fled on foot. Police were able to locate the second person, identified as Jerek L. Evans, 26, B/M 02/15/1985.
Evidence found in the vehicle and an interview with Evans, indicate that the driver mixed chemicals in a glass liquor bottle to produce an illegal drug known on the street as “Shake N Bake.” As a result of this procedure, the bottle of chemicals exploded as they were driving and it appears that pieces of the bottle struck the decedent in the neck causing his death. The explosion caused the decedent to lose control of the vehicle and crash.
The next of kin were notified that our agency was investigating the death of their son.
An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon. The investigation is ongoing; no further information is available for release. No charges have been filed against the passenger at this time.
- posted by Ann Dinges, PIO
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