LAKE COUNTY, Florida — The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting that a 41-year-old Lakeland, Florida man and his three young children (who are approximately ages 1, 2, and 3) died as a result of injuries they sustained in a traffic accident that occurred around 6:45 p.m. on Friday.
Troopers say that the father was driving a 2009 Mercedes 4-door southbound on State Road 33 near Groveland Airport Road. For an unknown reason, the driver lost control and left the roadway. The front of the Mercedes then struck several trees and a pole.
The Mercedes continued on the shoulder and its roof struck a tree as the vehicle came to a final rest. FHP says that the exact ages of the children have not been confirmed. The man and one passenger – a boy – were pronounced deceased on scene. The two other children – a boy and a girl – died after being transported to Southlake Hospital.
The crash remains under investigation. UPDATE: The children’s ages have been confirmed by FHP as 2, 7, and 9. The father has been identified as Wilfred O. Malave.