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Three teens killed in Lakeland crash
Josh Cascio reports
LAKELAND, Fla. - The Lakeland Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that claimed the lives of three teenagers Wednesday night.
According to police, the teens were traveling northbound on US 98 North at a high rate of speed shortly before 10:30 p.m. as a Lincoln pick-up truck was traveling southbound on US 98 North.
Investigators say the Nissan crashed into the truck after the truck's driver entered the left turn lane and tried to turn left into the plaza located on the east side of the roadway.
Three teens were killed in a vehicle crash Wednesday night.
Post-impact, deputies say both vehicles spun around and began to slide in an eastbound direction.
The Nissan came to final rest in the entrance/exit to the plaza while the Lincoln hit a Toyota Corolla that was trying to exit the plaza and turn right onto US 98 North.
Police are investigating a triple-vehicle crash that killed three teens Wednesday night.
Both the Lincoln and the Toyota came to final rest in the roadway.
When first responders arrived, they said they found a 16-year-old female, a 16-year-old male, and a 19-year-old male unresponsive inside the Nissan.
Investigators say the 16-year-old female driver was extricated from the car and taken to Lakeland Regional Health, where she died.
The 16-year-old and 19-year-old passengers of the Nissan were pronounced dead at the scene. The 16-year-old boy was identified by family as Gage Rogerson.
Pictured: 16-year-old Gage Rogerson.
"At this moment, I’m kind of dead inside, and I don’t think any father in their 40s should have to bury their 16-year-old son," Gregory Rogerson, Gage's father, said.
Gage was a rising sophomore at Tenoroc High School. Some day he wanted to be a sportscaster. His dad says the crash happened while they were wrapping up a double date.
"It was an accident, it took three beautiful souls that loved everybody. It took their future away," Rogerson said.
Neither the driver of the Lincoln nor the Corolla was injured.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Tyler Anderson at tyler.anderson@lakelandgov.net.