A portion of Interstate 4 in Lakeland was shut down Friday morning after a series of crashes, one of which was fatal.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, I-4 was closed between the Polk Parkway and Memorial Blvd. after three crashes.

The roadway was reopened to traffic at 9 a.m.

In one of those crashes, which happened at 5:26 a.m., Luis A. Torres, 27, was driving a 2009 Mitsubishi west on I-4 when he lost control and his car began to spin clockwise, troopers said.

Torres' car left the roadway and traveled onto the grass, then struck the concrete wall under the overpass for State Road 570. The car then ricocheted back onto I-4 and came to rest in the center and outside lanes.

Troopers said Torres died from his injuries at the scene of the crash.

Another crash followed about two hours later near the same spot but in the eastbound lanes. After that, a five-vehicle pileup in the westbound lanes prompted troopers to close the highway.

The crashes, which took place in about a three-mile stretch, are under investigation.

Traffic was backed up for several miles after the roadway was reopened.