A Lakeland man was killed Friday night when his Toyota 4Runner was hit head-on by a stolen vehicle carrying six people, police said.
Matthew John Smith, 31, was southbound on Galloway Road around 7:40 p.m. when a Buick Rendezvous traveling the opposite way crossed the double-yellow line and caused a collision, according to the Lakeland Police Department.
The owner of the Buick had reported it stolen on Friday morning, saying it was taken when he left it running briefly while going into his home.
Sometime before the fatal crash, the Polk County Sheriff's deputies spotted the vehicle speeding and attempted to stop it. A deputy aborted his pursuit near near the intersection of Galloway Road and Sutton Road when it became evident the Buick wasn't going to stop, authorities said.
At the crash scene, officers found the Buick facing north on its right side on the east shoulder of Galloway Road. The 4Runner was facing south on the east shoulder, and Smith, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was dead, police said.
Investigators say the Buick was occupied by six males, all of whom were transported to Lakeland Regional Health with various injuries except for one juvenile, who was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. Five of the occupants were stable with serious injuries, police said.
It is believed there were three adults and three juveniles in the stolen vehicle, investigators said. Their identities have not been released.