FATAL CRASH INVOLVING MOTORCYCLE
LAKELAND, FL (April 30, 2025) – On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at approximately 11:20 p.m., officers responded to a crash involving a motorcycle in the 4100 block of South Florida Avenue. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, prior to the crash, a grey Ford was exiting Bowlero, 4111 South Florida Avenue, in an eastbound direction toward the median. As the Ford entered the roadway, an unknown vehicle, which was in front of the Ford, made a sudden U-turn in front of the Ford, causing the Ford to stop briefly in the roadway. At the same time, a blue Yamaha motorcycle was traveling in the inside southbound lane and collided with the Ford’s rear driver side door and fender.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Units, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department arrived on the scene and began life-saving measures. The motorcycle driver was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with life threatening injuries.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately four hours while the scene was processed.
On April 28, 2025, the driver of the motorcycle succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contactOfficer Camilo Almeida at [email protected].
The motorcycle operator (deceased) was identified as:
Neel Patel
Age 28
Lakeland, FL
The Ford operator was identified as:
Travis Maxwell
Age 21
Lakeland, FL
