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1 Killed In 3-Vehicle Lakeland Crash; Man Arrested

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TBO.com

Published: September 13, 2008

Updated: 09/13/2008 08:00 pm

LAKELAND An arrest has been made in a traffic accident this morning that left one dead at 1200 E. Memorial Blvd.

According to the Lakeland Police Department, Clemente Diaz-DeJesus, 20, of Auburndale, was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatality, no valid driver's license, no insurance, two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury.

Diaz-DeJesus was heading eastbound this morning at about 8 a.m. in an Isuzu on East Memorial Boulevard when he ran a red light the intersection of North Lake Parker, police said. He hit two vehicles, a Ford Taurus and a motorcycle making left hand turns in a two-way turning lane from North Lake Parker.

The motorcyclist, Gary Meadows, 68, of Lakeland, was killed instantly.

Police said that two of the passengers in the Taurus, driver Osvalvo Capote and Nery Torez, both of Lakeland, were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for serious but non-life threatening injuries.

A third passenger in the Taurus, a child in a car seat in the back seat, received minor injuries.

Officer Ray Lloyd responded to the accident and talked with witnesses who said Diaz-DeJesus and his passenger, Jose Diaz-Gonzales, 19, had fled the scene on foot, leaving the Isuzu behind with alcohol in it.

A K-9 unit began to track the suspects when Detective Brian Wallace, who was patrolling in the area, heard the call and description of the suspects on his police radio. Wallace saw the two men walking on East Gary Road.

The suspects were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. About 5 hours later, Diaz-DeJesus provided a breath sample that read .121 and .125. The legal limit for driving under the influence is .08.

The police said Diaz-Gonzales has not been charged at this time, and the investigation is continuing.

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