A Lakeland motorcyclist died in a collision on K-Ville Avenue on the early morning hours of April 29.
The crash happened about 5:55 a.m. in Winter Haven at K-Ville Avenue and Taylor Road, about 600 feet east of Thornhill Road.
Auburndale resident Alexander Hughes, 33, was driving a 2019 red Chevrolet pickup truck east on K-Ville Avenue and began to make a left-hand turn to head north on Taylor Road.
At the same time, Lakeland resident Ricardo Uzai Bautista Ramirez, 28, was driving west on K-Ville Avenue. His motorcycle struck the truck nearly head on. Bautista Ramirez died from the impact, despite wearing a helmet.
Hughes stopped and cooperated with Polk County deputies’ investigation. He was not injured.
The westbound lane of K-Ville Avenue was shut down for more than two hours following the crash. Deputies do not suspect speed or impairment played a factor for either driver.
There is an active investigation that remain open and ongoing at this time.
This is at least the sixth fatal traffic accident involving a motorcyclist in Polk County so far in 2026, as reported by The Ledger.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 28-year-old motorcyclist dies in crash on K-Ville Ave. in Winter Haven
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
