Woman killed when truck hits Lakeland home

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - Jan Folds was at home preparing for a Bible study early Thursday morning, but it turned out to be the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Deputies say Ryan Tallent of Plant City was speeding along Fitzgerald Road in his pickup truck and careened through the front wall of Folds' home. Jan was in the guest bedroom when the truck came crashing through and killed her.

"It's surreal," said Lewis Barger, a family friend.

The truck continued through the dining room and ended up in the kitchen where Jan's husband, retired pastor Wyatt Folds, was about to leave. The pastor told detectives the truck barely missed hitting him.

"They got up to start their early morning routine.  To just live the morning lifestyle, and it ended in an instant, in the blink of an eye," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Tallent, 24, was charged with DUI manslaughter and more. It is not his first brush with the criminal justice system. He already had been charged with a DUI in 2009 in Hillsborough County. His record also includes charges of grand theft and domestic violence.

The Folds are known as a very religious family. Along with Wyatt Folds being a pastor, Jan was associated with two churches, both in Lakeland. She was member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and worked part time at Sheppard Road Presbyterian Church.

"If you had to pick the people that deserve the best things in life," said Barger, "these would be the people."

Friends from church, neighbors and loved one came throughout the day to give Wyatt Folds their condolences.