Plant City woman dies after her van hits tractor trailer in Lakeland

LAKELAND — A Plant City woman died and two children were injured after her van hit a tractor trailer on Highway 92 in Lakeland Wednesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Helen Abram Lamar, 73 of Plant City, was west of Hibiscus Parkway at 4 p.m. Wednesday when she crossed over the center line into the path of a tractor trailer driven by William Alfredo Chesson, Jr., 51, of Falls City, Neb., the FHP said.

Chesson tried to steer out of the way but the front left side of Lamar's van hit the tractor trailer, spun and stopped in the middle of the road, investigators reported. The tractor trailer went off the road.

It was unknown Wednesday night what caused Lamar's van to cross over the center line, the FHP said. She died at the scene. Her two adopted daughters, Laniah, 8, and Jalena, 7, were seriously injured and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Chesson had minor injuries.