The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating an early morning fatal crash in Bartow involving a semi. 

  • Polk deputies investigate fatal crash involving semi
  • SUV collided into semi trailer on SR 60 in Bartow
  • SUV driver, Dennett Blue Jr., killed in crash

The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. on SR 60 between West Main Street and Bonnie Mine Road. 

Officials said an SUV and a semi were involved in the crash. 

The SUV was heading westbound on SR 60 West, while a Mack truck pulling a trailer was heading eastbound, and turning left into the Cedar Trail Landfill, officials said. 

The rear portion of the trailer was still in the westbound lane as the SUV approached. The SUV struck the trailer, fatally injuring the driver, Dennett Blue, Jr., 49. 

Blue was trauma alerted to Bartow Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries. 

The semi driver, Ariel Soto, 68, was not injured. 

One lane on SR 60 eastbound and westbound is open to traffic while deputies investigate.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.