Witness Needed In Fatal Accident

38-Year-Old Wauchula Man Died Following Foggy Crash

By JOAN SEAMAN
of The Herald-Advocate

A potential witness to a fatal crash on Saturday morning is asked to help the Florida Highway Patrol. According to the FHP report of Tpr. Jesse DeBoom, the incident happened shortly before 8 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. 17 and REA Road in heavy fog. Jimmy Lyn Giles, 38, of Wauchula, was critically injured in the crash and transported to Florida Hospital Wauchula, where he later died from his injuries. Information received by homicide investigator Cpl. Louis M. Smith Jr. indicates there was a small dark, possibly maroon, vehicle traveling east on REA Road behind one of the vehicles in the crash. Another witness used the cell phone of the female driver to call for emergency assistance. The possible witness, or anyone with additional information, is asked to contact Cpl. Smith at 1-800-993-4618, ext, 262, and leave a message. According to the preliminary report, a 1993 Kenilworth tractor-trailer driven by James Edward Smith, 55, of Mauk, Ga., traveling southbound in the inside lane of U.S. 17 was braking and began to jackknife while entering the intersection. Smith’s vehicle collided with the left side of the 1998 Dodge pickup driven by Giles, which had entered the intersection. The tractor-trailer came to rest facing north with its trailer facing west across the southbound lanes of U.S. 17 south of the intersection.
After the impact, the pickup rotated to the west shoulder of U.S. 17, traveled back and through the intersection, through a ditch on the northwest side of the intersection, coming to a final rest facing in a westerly direction on the west side of U.S. 17. Giles became the fifth fatality on Hardee County roads in 2011.
A 2004 Chevrolet Impala in the used car lot the northwest side of the intersection received
about $300 damage from debris from the crash. The pickup had about $5,000 damage and the
tractor-trailer about $15,000. In an unrelated incident of Saturday afternoon, a 48-year-
old Zolfo Springs woman died in an accident on SR 62 just west of the Hardee county line.
According to the report of FHP Tpr. Sean McCormick, Luis Paulin-Hemandez, 51, of
3546 Poplar St., Zolfo Springs, was eastbound on SR 62. Just past Duette Road, he lost control of the vehicle, rotated counterclockwise and left the roadway on the north shoulder.
The 2004 GMC 1500 then entered the ditch and overturned, with the right rear and
roof striking a tree, before it continued in the ditch on its left side. It came to rest facing east
on its left side in the ditch, said the trooper's report.
Isidora Paulin, 48, of the same Zolfo Springs address, died at the scene. The driver received minor injuries. Passenger Mario Paulin, 23, was transported to Bayfront Medical Center with critical injuries. Passenger Jorge Paulin, 21, was taken to Florida Hospital Wauchula with minor injuries. Neither the driver, nor any of the passengers was wearing a seat belt. Charges are pending further investigation.