Lindsey Nichole CALDWELL, S10-7
7 Mar 1999 - 29 Jul 2005
*******************************************
LAKELAND -- Lindsey Nicole Caldwell's parents
thought they would be seeing their 6-year-old
daughter off on her first day of school Wednesday. Instead, it's the day they'll be burying her.
Lindsey sustained head injuries Thursday when
the trash-removal crane of a city of Lakeland
trash-hauling truck swung out and smashed into
the top of the parked pickup truck the girl
and her mother were in, according to the Florida
Highway Patrol.
Lindsey was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital,
where she died Friday morning.
Sunday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were still
stunned by the death of their daughter and
searching for answers. They said they are angry
that they had received no explanations or any
word at all from the city.
Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas said he had
been told there was an accident involving a city
vehicle Thursday but until he was contacted Sunday
by The Ledger, he did not know the girl had died.
"We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers
to the Caldwell family on the loss of their
daughter," Thomas said.
The city will work with the Florida Highway
Patrol, which is investigating the fatal
accident, he said.
Thomas said he didn't know if equipment problems
were involved in Thursday's accident, but he
said any similar city vehicles will be inspected
to make sure they are working properly.
The Caldwells have said they can't afford to
pay for Lindsey's funeral. Thomas said that if
the family is indigent, then the city will work
with its insurance managers to see what can be
done to help the family.
Since Lindsey's death, relatives, some from
Georgia and Michigan, have gathered at the
Caldwells' home on K-Ville Road near Auburndale.
On Sunday they hugged one another on the front
lawn as Michael Caldwell leaned on a truck and
blinked back tears.
"The only time I don't think about it is when
I'm sleeping," he said. "All I want to do is
sleep."
On Thursday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were
staying at a motel with Lindsey and her older
sister, Jessica, so the children could swim in
the pool. They wanted to stay at the motel one
more day but were out of money, so they drove
to a scrap yard to sell some vehicle rims.
As their 1995 Dodge truck sat parked next to
the scrap yard at County Road 542 and Reynolds
Road just east of Lakeland, the city vehicle was
heading east on CR 542. Michael Caldwell was
standing outside the truck by the front passenger
door, holding Jessica, when the trash removal
crane knocked off the top of the truck cab.
Teri Caldwell was sitting in the driver's seat
next to Lindsey and said she was knocked unconscious briefly. When she came to, the pickup truck was
gone and she was looking up at the sky.
Michael was holding Lindsey and screaming "Lin-lin!"
over and over. But it was too late.
"She was brain dead," he said.
According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman
Larry Coggins Jr., the city driver, 37-year-old
Hiram Cuevas of Lakeland, became aware the crane
wasn't secured as he was driving. But Coggins said
it was not clear how long he drove before the crane
hit the Caldwells' truck.
Michael Caldwell says he wants Cuevas to lose
his license and to be charged in the death of his daughter. And he plans to sue the city.
"I want justice," he said.
Patrol troopers cited Cuevas for careless
driving, but because Lindsey died the case
is now being investigated as a traffic homicide,
and additional charges could result, Coggins said.
7 Mar 1999 - 29 Jul 2005
*******************************************
LAKELAND -- Lindsey Nicole Caldwell's parents
thought they would be seeing their 6-year-old
daughter off on her first day of school Wednesday. Instead, it's the day they'll be burying her.
Lindsey sustained head injuries Thursday when
the trash-removal crane of a city of Lakeland
trash-hauling truck swung out and smashed into
the top of the parked pickup truck the girl
and her mother were in, according to the Florida
Highway Patrol.
Lindsey was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital,
where she died Friday morning.
Sunday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were still
stunned by the death of their daughter and
searching for answers. They said they are angry
that they had received no explanations or any
word at all from the city.
Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas said he had
been told there was an accident involving a city
vehicle Thursday but until he was contacted Sunday
by The Ledger, he did not know the girl had died.
"We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers
to the Caldwell family on the loss of their
daughter," Thomas said.
The city will work with the Florida Highway
Patrol, which is investigating the fatal
accident, he said.
Thomas said he didn't know if equipment problems
were involved in Thursday's accident, but he
said any similar city vehicles will be inspected
to make sure they are working properly.
The Caldwells have said they can't afford to
pay for Lindsey's funeral. Thomas said that if
the family is indigent, then the city will work
with its insurance managers to see what can be
done to help the family.
Since Lindsey's death, relatives, some from
Georgia and Michigan, have gathered at the
Caldwells' home on K-Ville Road near Auburndale.
On Sunday they hugged one another on the front
lawn as Michael Caldwell leaned on a truck and
blinked back tears.
"The only time I don't think about it is when
I'm sleeping," he said. "All I want to do is
sleep."
On Thursday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were
staying at a motel with Lindsey and her older
sister, Jessica, so the children could swim in
the pool. They wanted to stay at the motel one
more day but were out of money, so they drove
to a scrap yard to sell some vehicle rims.
As their 1995 Dodge truck sat parked next to
the scrap yard at County Road 542 and Reynolds
Road just east of Lakeland, the city vehicle was
heading east on CR 542. Michael Caldwell was
standing outside the truck by the front passenger
door, holding Jessica, when the trash removal
crane knocked off the top of the truck cab.
Teri Caldwell was sitting in the driver's seat
next to Lindsey and said she was knocked unconscious briefly. When she came to, the pickup truck was
gone and she was looking up at the sky.
Michael was holding Lindsey and screaming "Lin-lin!"
over and over. But it was too late.
"She was brain dead," he said.
According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman
Larry Coggins Jr., the city driver, 37-year-old
Hiram Cuevas of Lakeland, became aware the crane
wasn't secured as he was driving. But Coggins said
it was not clear how long he drove before the crane
hit the Caldwells' truck.
Michael Caldwell says he wants Cuevas to lose
his license and to be charged in the death of his daughter. And he plans to sue the city.
"I want justice," he said.
Patrol troopers cited Cuevas for careless
driving, but because Lindsey died the case
is now being investigated as a traffic homicide,
and additional charges could result, Coggins said.
Lindsey Nichole CALDWELL, S10-7
7 Mar 1999 - 29 Jul 2005
*******************************************
LAKELAND -- Lindsey Nicole Caldwell's parents
thought they would be seeing their 6-year-old
daughter off on her first day of school Wednesday. Instead, it's the day they'll be burying her.
Lindsey sustained head injuries Thursday when
the trash-removal crane of a city of Lakeland
trash-hauling truck swung out and smashed into
the top of the parked pickup truck the girl
and her mother were in, according to the Florida
Highway Patrol.
Lindsey was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital,
where she died Friday morning.
Sunday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were still
stunned by the death of their daughter and
searching for answers. They said they are angry
that they had received no explanations or any
word at all from the city.
Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas said he had
been told there was an accident involving a city
vehicle Thursday but until he was contacted Sunday
by The Ledger, he did not know the girl had died.
"We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers
to the Caldwell family on the loss of their
daughter," Thomas said.
The city will work with the Florida Highway
Patrol, which is investigating the fatal
accident, he said.
Thomas said he didn't know if equipment problems
were involved in Thursday's accident, but he
said any similar city vehicles will be inspected
to make sure they are working properly.
The Caldwells have said they can't afford to
pay for Lindsey's funeral. Thomas said that if
the family is indigent, then the city will work
with its insurance managers to see what can be
done to help the family.
Since Lindsey's death, relatives, some from
Georgia and Michigan, have gathered at the
Caldwells' home on K-Ville Road near Auburndale.
On Sunday they hugged one another on the front
lawn as Michael Caldwell leaned on a truck and
blinked back tears.
"The only time I don't think about it is when
I'm sleeping," he said. "All I want to do is
sleep."
On Thursday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were
staying at a motel with Lindsey and her older
sister, Jessica, so the children could swim in
the pool. They wanted to stay at the motel one
more day but were out of money, so they drove
to a scrap yard to sell some vehicle rims.
As their 1995 Dodge truck sat parked next to
the scrap yard at County Road 542 and Reynolds
Road just east of Lakeland, the city vehicle was
heading east on CR 542. Michael Caldwell was
standing outside the truck by the front passenger
door, holding Jessica, when the trash removal
crane knocked off the top of the truck cab.
Teri Caldwell was sitting in the driver's seat
next to Lindsey and said she was knocked unconscious briefly. When she came to, the pickup truck was
gone and she was looking up at the sky.
Michael was holding Lindsey and screaming "Lin-lin!"
over and over. But it was too late.
"She was brain dead," he said.
According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman
Larry Coggins Jr., the city driver, 37-year-old
Hiram Cuevas of Lakeland, became aware the crane
wasn't secured as he was driving. But Coggins said
it was not clear how long he drove before the crane
hit the Caldwells' truck.
Michael Caldwell says he wants Cuevas to lose
his license and to be charged in the death of his daughter. And he plans to sue the city.
"I want justice," he said.
Patrol troopers cited Cuevas for careless
driving, but because Lindsey died the case
is now being investigated as a traffic homicide,
and additional charges could result, Coggins said.
7 Mar 1999 - 29 Jul 2005
*******************************************
LAKELAND -- Lindsey Nicole Caldwell's parents
thought they would be seeing their 6-year-old
daughter off on her first day of school Wednesday. Instead, it's the day they'll be burying her.
Lindsey sustained head injuries Thursday when
the trash-removal crane of a city of Lakeland
trash-hauling truck swung out and smashed into
the top of the parked pickup truck the girl
and her mother were in, according to the Florida
Highway Patrol.
Lindsey was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital,
where she died Friday morning.
Sunday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were still
stunned by the death of their daughter and
searching for answers. They said they are angry
that they had received no explanations or any
word at all from the city.
Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas said he had
been told there was an accident involving a city
vehicle Thursday but until he was contacted Sunday
by The Ledger, he did not know the girl had died.
"We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers
to the Caldwell family on the loss of their
daughter," Thomas said.
The city will work with the Florida Highway
Patrol, which is investigating the fatal
accident, he said.
Thomas said he didn't know if equipment problems
were involved in Thursday's accident, but he
said any similar city vehicles will be inspected
to make sure they are working properly.
The Caldwells have said they can't afford to
pay for Lindsey's funeral. Thomas said that if
the family is indigent, then the city will work
with its insurance managers to see what can be
done to help the family.
Since Lindsey's death, relatives, some from
Georgia and Michigan, have gathered at the
Caldwells' home on K-Ville Road near Auburndale.
On Sunday they hugged one another on the front
lawn as Michael Caldwell leaned on a truck and
blinked back tears.
"The only time I don't think about it is when
I'm sleeping," he said. "All I want to do is
sleep."
On Thursday, Michael and Teri Caldwell were
staying at a motel with Lindsey and her older
sister, Jessica, so the children could swim in
the pool. They wanted to stay at the motel one
more day but were out of money, so they drove
to a scrap yard to sell some vehicle rims.
As their 1995 Dodge truck sat parked next to
the scrap yard at County Road 542 and Reynolds
Road just east of Lakeland, the city vehicle was
heading east on CR 542. Michael Caldwell was
standing outside the truck by the front passenger
door, holding Jessica, when the trash removal
crane knocked off the top of the truck cab.
Teri Caldwell was sitting in the driver's seat
next to Lindsey and said she was knocked unconscious briefly. When she came to, the pickup truck was
gone and she was looking up at the sky.
Michael was holding Lindsey and screaming "Lin-lin!"
over and over. But it was too late.
"She was brain dead," he said.
According to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman
Larry Coggins Jr., the city driver, 37-year-old
Hiram Cuevas of Lakeland, became aware the crane
wasn't secured as he was driving. But Coggins said
it was not clear how long he drove before the crane
hit the Caldwells' truck.
Michael Caldwell says he wants Cuevas to lose
his license and to be charged in the death of his daughter. And he plans to sue the city.
"I want justice," he said.
Patrol troopers cited Cuevas for careless
driving, but because Lindsey died the case
is now being investigated as a traffic homicide,
and additional charges could result, Coggins said.
