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Ex-Polk Commissioner Young Dies Of Crash Injuries

Tribune file photo by GREG FIGHT

Marlene Young served three terms on the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 22, 2008

Updated: 05/22/2008 10:08 am

LAKELAND - Former Polk County Commissioner Marlene Young, a fixture in Polk County political and civic life for a quarter century, died early Thursday from injuries suffered in a car crash Wednesday night. She was 58.

The crash occurred just after 7 p.m. on Lake Howard Drive, according to a Winter Haven police report.

A Toyota driven by William Boyd Johnson, 72, of Winter Haven, crossed the centerline of the street and crashed head-on into the Toyota RAV4 driven by Young's husband, Robert. Young and her daughter Meghan, 22, also were in the RAV4, police said.

Johnson died at the scene.

Early reports indicated that Young survived the crash, but she died at 2:10 a.m. at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where she was airlifted, the police report states.

Robert and Meghan Young were taken to Winter Haven Hospital, the police report says. A Winter Haven Hospital spokesman said Robert Young was treated but not admitted and that Meghan Young was airlifted to Lakeland Regional. No word on her condition was available.

The Winter Haven police traffic homicide unit is continuing to investigate the crash. It was not immediately clear what caused Johnson to cross the centerline.

After serving as a city commissioner and mayor of Winter Haven, Young was elected to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners in 1988 and served three terms. After leaving politics in 2000, she remained active in business and civic life in Polk County and Winter Haven, where she worked in real estate.

She also participated in the city's planning process in 2000 and participated in last week's Winter Haven city government retreat.

"Although she no longer held public office, [Young] continued to be involved in the Winter Haven community," said Winter Haven spokeswoman Joy Townsend. "City of Winter Haven staff is, frankly, shocked at the loss. She was truly an asset who was dedicated to the betterment of our community. She will be missed immensely. Our immediate thoughts and prayers go out to the Young family for their loss."

Stay with TBO.com for developments.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampa trib.com.

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