Two women die in head-on collision after vehicle crosses median
Two women were killed in a head-on crash on Kathleen Road in north Lakeland on Nov. 29.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call at 5:47 p.m. regarding a multi-vehicle crash in front of Nick and Moe’s gas station at 4410 Kathleen Road. PCSO said in a news release that when first responders arrived at the scene, they found two people already dead: 23-year-old Rylee Hill of Fort Meade and 79-year-old Annette Zalner of Lakeland.
Three of the victims with non-life-threatening injuries were taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, PCSO said.
According to the investigation, a 2024 Nissan driven by Hill was traveling along the west-to-north curve of Kathleen Road when it failed to negotiate the curve. The car went over the center grass median and briefly became airborne before striking the front left quarter panel of a 2024 Kia driven by Emily Placeres, 48, of Lakeland.
PCSO said the Nissan then hit a Dodge Ram truck and continued westbound, hitting an Audi SUV head-on. Annettee Zalner was a passenger in the Audi driven by Brock Hiltner, 25, of Michigan.
Brock Hiltner’s father, Chad Hiltner, 53, of Lakeland, was driving his Dodge truck and was not injured, PCSO reported.
PCSO said Hill, the driver of the Nissan, was suspected of speeding. Kathleen Road was closed for approximately six hours following the crashes.
This article was first published on The Ledger: PCSO: Two women dead in head-on collision on Kathleen Road
