Davenport, FL — January 27, 2026, Jose Velazquez was killed in a dump truck accident at about 6 a.m. on U.S. Highway 17/92.

Authorities said two vehicles were heading north near Steward Road when they collided, forcing one, a 2014 Infiniti Q50, to veer into oncoming traffic. The Infiniti crashed head-on with a southbound dump truck.

Infiniti driver Jose Velazquez, 47, of Haines City died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Polk County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a fatal collision involving a passenger car and a dump truck, especially one that happened early in the morning, the first question on most minds is: What exactly caused this chain of events? The authorities say one northbound vehicle collided with another, causing an Infiniti sedan to veer into oncoming traffic and hit a southbound dump truck head-on. But beyond that, many critical facts remain unanswered.

One of the first things that stands out to me is that we don’t yet know how the two northbound vehicles came to collide in the first place. That missing detail is key. Was someone distracted? Did a vehicle drift from its lane? Was there an unsafe lane change or a sudden stop involved? Any of those scenarios could radically alter where responsibility lies.

We also don’t know whether the dump truck was in motion at the time of the crash or stopped in the roadway. Depending on that detail, very different legal questions come into play. If the truck was moving at highway speed in its lane and couldn’t avoid the oncoming car, the driver might not have had any chance to react. But if the truck was stationary or partially in the roadway, investigators will need to examine whether it was properly positioned and visible.

Then there's the question of visibility and reaction time. This happened at about 6 a.m., a time when light conditions may not be ideal. In situations like these, the truck’s headlights, reflectors and other visibility aids matter a lot. Investigators will want to know whether the dump truck was properly equipped and whether its lights were on. Just as important is any camera footage that might exist. Many commercial vehicles are equipped with dash cams or in-cab cameras. If that’s the case here, that footage could tell us exactly what happened in those crucial moments before the impact.

Another piece of the puzzle is the engine control module, or ECM, often called the truck’s “black box.” It records data like speed, braking and throttle position, which can provide an objective record of the truck’s behavior in the seconds before the crash. That kind of data is often the difference between guesswork and proof.

Ultimately, determining who’s responsible here is going to require a careful and complete investigation; not just of the crash scene but also of the vehicles themselves and the people operating them. Until more details come out, all we really know is that a man lost his life and that more questions need answers before any meaningful accountability can be reached.

Key Takeaways:

• It's unclear what caused the initial collision between the two northbound vehicles that set off the chain of events.
• Whether the dump truck was moving or stationary at the time of the crash could significantly affect fault.
• Visibility conditions around 6 a.m. and the dump truck’s lighting may factor into how the crash happened.
• Data from the dump truck’s ECM and any dash cam footage could help clarify the sequence of events.
• A full investigation is necessary to determine where accountability lies, and that can only happen through evidence, not assumptions.