LAKELAND, Fla. – A Saturday morning drive ended in tragedy for a local woman after a two-vehicle collision in Lakeland led to her death two days later.
On April 18, 2026, emergency crews rushed to the 1500 block of Providence Road around 9:33 a.m. following reports of a violent wreck involving a brown Chevrolet Malibu and a white Lexus SUV.
According to investigators from the Lakeland Police Department, the Chevrolet, driven by 65-year-old Tina Swakcerd of Lakeland, was heading south on Providence Road. Simultaneously, 34-year-old Lattessia Lankin of Tampa was driving her Lexus east on West 14th Street.
The Lexus entered the intersection, striking the passenger side of Swakcerd’s Chevrolet. The force of the initial impact sent the Chevrolet spinning southeast toward an electric pole, where the Lexus struck the sedan a second time as it redirected.
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First responders from Polk County Fire Rescue and the Lakeland Fire Department joined patrol units on the scene to perform life-saving measures.
Both drivers were rushed to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. While the scene was processed by the Traffic Homicide Unit, the roadway remained closed for roughly four hours.
Despite the efforts of medical staff at the hospital, Swakcerd succumbed to her critical injuries on Monday morning. The investigation into the crash remains active.
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