Loughman, Fla. — A quiet Saturday night on Ronald Reagan Parkway turned tragic when 41-year-old Reinaldo Lopez Jr. of Poinciana was killed after a car pulled into his path and struck his motorcycle. The crash happened around 9 p.m. just west of Thousand Oaks Boulevard in northeast Polk County, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue crews were called to the scene where they found Lopez lying beside his 2005 Suzuki motorcycle. He was wearing a helmet, but suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the site.
The Florida Highway Patrol and Polk County traffic homicide investigators pieced together what likely happened. A 2015 Mercedes-Benz sedan, driven by 30-year-old Melissa Soberanis of Davenport, was heading east and tried to make a U-turn at Thousand Oaks Boulevard to go back west. As the car swung across lanes, it entered into Lopez’s path on his westbound route.
Passengers in the Mercedes included 25-year-old Sihomaris Seise of Winter Garden. Both women were wearing seat belts and walked away without injury, deputies said. Officials noted that speed did not seem to be a factor, and there are no expected criminal charges at this stage, though the investigation remains open.
For about three hours after the crash, Ronald Reagan Parkway was closed while traffic homicide detectives and forensic teams gathered evidence and reconstructed the collision. Witnesses and surrounding community members were urged to avoid the area as responders worked.
In the aftermath, law enforcement reminded drivers that sharing the road with motorcyclists requires extra attention. Motorcycles can be hard to spot, and split-second decisions by drivers can have deadly outcomes. Officials emphasized careful turning, checking blind spots, and obeying traffic laws to protect all road users.
Friends and family of Lopez have not yet released public statements, but his loss is a stark reminder of how fragile life on the road can be. Investigators continue to review all aspects of the crash and will provide updates when more information becomes available.
