FLORIDA — A 24-year-old woman was killed early Friday morning after her car struck a semi-truck and crashed into a nearby church building, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said the crash occurred shortly before 12:30 a.m. on U.S. 27 near B Moore Road, just outside Haines City.
Investigators identified the driver as Jovanna Saily, 24, of Bowling Green. Authorities said she was driving a Hyundai sedan when it collided with a semi-truck that was making a legal U-turn to head northbound on the highway.
According to deputies, the sedan traveled underneath the semi-trailer following the impact, crossed the median, left the roadway, struck a fence and then crashed into the First Apostolic Pentecostal Church.
Saily was pronounced dead at the scene.
The semi-truck driver, a 24-year-old woman from Tampa, was not injured and is cooperating with investigators.
Authorities said speed appears to have been a factor in the crash, noting that no pre-impact skid marks were found at the scene. No charges are expected at this time as the investigation continues.
Both directions of U.S. 27 were shut down for approximately five hours while traffic homicide investigators processed the scene.
