Two-Vehicle Crash In Polk Injures Highlands Residents

The north and southbound lanes of U.S. 27 were closed for several hours and seven people were injured following a two-vehicle accident late Saturday night in Polk County.

The crash happened at 10:40 p.m. Saturday at U.S. 27 and Avon Park Cutoff Road. A semi-truck traveling north on 27 failed to stop at a stoplight and hit a Ford Explorer, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Craig Alan Skipper, 48, of Avon Park, was the driver of the SUV. He sustained critical injuries and was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A passenger, Edna Ward Faath, 27, of Sebring, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to LRMC, the sheriff's office said.

Skipper's current status was unknown early Monday morning.

The driver of the semi was Oneil James Grenier, 47, of Avon Park, who was transported to LRMC in stable condition. One passenger, Lori Cox, 38, was uninjured, while two juveniles - Amanda Cox, 16, and Shawn Loeb, 7, and Kristopher Loeb, 7, -- sustained minor injuries.

Kristopher Loeb, 5, another passenger, was initially listed in a Polk County Sheriff's Office press release as sustaining minor injuries. Hospital staff at Tampa General Hospital, however, said Monday afternoon that he was, in fact, transported there for treatment and was in fair condition.

A fourth juvenile passenger, Dexter Grenier, 15, was said, by the sheriff's office, to have been air lifted to Tampa General with serious injuries. Hospital staff he was not sent there for treatment and did not have an update on his present condition.

The semi was hauling boxed oranges and the crash caused the fruit to scatter over both sides of U.S. 27. The road was closed from 11 p.m., Saturday to 5 a.m., Sunday. The Florida Department of Transportation assisted with the cleanup.