POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A drive on the Polk Parkway took a violent turn Monday morning after a moment of distraction led a driver into the center guardrail.
The crash occurred just after 11:00 a.m. on State Road 570 near Milepost 5. According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 52-year-old man from Palm Harbor was traveling eastbound in a Lexus SUV when he attempted to retrieve an object on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Troopers say the driver unbuckled his seatbelt to extend his reach. The movement caused him to lose focus on the road, sending the SUV drifting out of the lane. The vehicle then collided with the center median guardrail.
READ: Florida Highway Patrol: Zephyrhills Man Struck And Killed On SR-54
Despite not wearing a seatbelt at the time of impact, the driver survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital for treatment.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
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