Nick Calderon Obituary – A 31-year-old Land O’ Lakes man was killed Wednesday morning after his car pulled in front of an oncoming Jeep in southwest Lakeland, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the crash happened on Waring Road at Old Medulla Road in unincorporated Lakeland. Nick Calderon, 31, was found dead by first responders when they arrived.
According to evidence and interviews, the Sheriff’s Office said it appeared Calderon was driving east on Old Medulla in a 2012 Mazda 6 when it crossed into the path of a 2020 Jeep Gladiator driven by Karen Bautista, 21, of Lakeland. The Mazda was struck by the driver’s door. The Sheriff’s Office said Calderon was not wearing a seatbelt, and “there was significant intrusion into his car. He was fatally injured.” Bautista and her passenger were treated and released from Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center with minor injuries. The Sheriff’s Office said that neither speed or distracted driving on her part were factors in the crash, and she was not impaired.