Polk County, FL — January 31, 2026, Dale Kohlmeyer was killed in a truck accident at about 5:45 a.m. in the 1800 block of Deen Still Road.

Authorities said a Freightliner semi-truck was turning left from a sand pit on Wheeler Road when it was hit by an eastbound 2018 Nissan Sentra, which ended up under the truck's trailer.

Nissan driver Dale Kohlmeyer, 61, of Zephyrhills died from injuries suffered in the crash near Davenport, 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 read about a crash like this, the first questions are usually simple: How did this happen? Was the truck already in the roadway, or did it pull out in front of oncoming traffic? Are we getting the full picture yet? Right now, the public doesn’t have answers to those questions, and that gap matters.

The initial description of this crash raises several unanswered questions. It’s not clear whether the truck had fully entered the roadway or was still crossing lanes. We don’t yet know how much time or distance the oncoming driver had to react. And we don’t know whether visibility, lighting, or the truck’s position played a role.

Underride crashes like this don’t happen in a vacuum. When a large truck is entering a roadway from a private drive or industrial site, timing and visibility are critical. Investigators should be asking whether the truck stopped completely before turning, how fast it was moving and whether the driver accurately judged the speed of oncoming traffic. Depending on whether the trailer was already blocking the lane or still moving across it, very different responsibility questions arise.

This is where evidence becomes essential. The truck’s engine control module can show when the brakes were applied, how fast the truck was moving and when the turn began. If the truck had in-cab or outward-facing cameras, they may show exactly when the truck entered the roadway and what traffic looked like at that moment. Cell phone records can help determine whether distraction was a factor. Scene evidence — such as skid marks, impact points and final vehicle positions — also helps reconstruct whether this was a sudden hazard or a misjudged maneuver.

It’s also important to look beyond the driver alone. A sand pit exit raises questions about whether the location itself creates known visibility issues, whether trucks are trained on how to safely enter traffic there and whether company procedures account for early-morning conditions when lighting is limited. I’ve seen cases where the decision to turn wasn’t reckless in isolation, but the company’s expectations and lack of guidance made a dangerous situation predictable.

At this stage, authorities say no additional details have been released. That means conclusions — one way or the other — are premature. The only way to understand what really happened is through a careful, independent investigation that follows the evidence wherever it leads.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not yet clear how long the truck was in the roadway or how much time the oncoming driver had to react.
• Underride crashes often hinge on timing, visibility and whether a truck safely entered traffic.
• Black box data, cameras and phone records are critical to answering unanswered questions.
• Responsibility may involve not just the driver, but company practices and site-specific risks.
• Real accountability only comes after all available evidence is collected and analyzed.