An Orlando boy and his mother were killed after the vehicle they were riding in was rear-ended on State Road 429 on Tuesday night.
The fatal accident took place near mile marker 1 on SR 429 on Monday, December 19, at around 6:16 p.m. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, a 53-year-old Lakeland man was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado southbound in the outside lane of SR 429.
As the vehicle began to slow down for traffic ahead, a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado that was following behind also began to slow down. That vehicle was being driven by a 37-year-old Orlando man.
A third vehicle, a 2021 Ford F-350 being driven by a 26-year-old Lakeland man, was also traveling southbound and failed to slow down for traffic ahead.
As a result, the pickup truck ran into the back of the 2001 Silverado, which caused that vehicle to crash into the Silverado it was following.
The driver of the F-350 and his passenger, a 25-year-old Lakeland man, were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the 2001 Chevrolet Silverado and his 3-year-old daughter were transported to the Osceola Regional Hospital with minor injuries. The mother riding in the vehicle, as well as her 10-year-old son, were both pronounced deceased.
The driver of the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado and his passenger, a 49-year-old Lakeland man, were not injured in the crash.