FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. – Tragedy struck in Fruitland Park when an Amazon delivery driver was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead inside her delivery vehicle, as reported by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The alarming discovery was made on Monday evening after a local resident became concerned about the Amazon truck parked for hours at the edge of his driveway.
Patrick Miranda, who resides in the vicinity, reached out to authorities via the sheriff’s office non-emergency line upon noticing the vehicle remained in operation.
“The phone was still connected, a backpack was visible, and the truck was running,” Miranda recalled. “It was unusual to see it abandoned like that.”
Surveillance footage from Miranda’s residence captured the swift arrival of deputies and Lake County Fire Rescue at the scene, with one frame revealing the Amazon truck’s side door ajar.
Miranda said a deputy initially opened the passenger-side door and appeared to react to fumes before opening the rear doors and finding the woman unconscious.
“The police officer opened the passenger side front and he had some fumes, he had to reel back from,” Miranda said. “Then he opened the back, the sliding doors, and she was lying there in the back unconscious.”
Miranda said he later saw one of the deputies step away from the truck and appear lightheaded.
“I’m not sure if there were fumes from either the vent, if there’s a package,” Miranda said. “There was a lot of speculation at the time from both the officers and the other people involved.”
Because of concerns about potentially toxic substances, Miranda said firefighters wearing gas masks responded and the area around the truck was secured.
He also said the woman was sprayed with a fire hose before paramedics began life-saving measures.
“Because they were worried about toxic chemicals, I remember they did use a fire hose to rinse her off to make sure there was nothing on her clothes or person,” Miranda said. “But immediately after that, they were using life-saving measures.”
The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
The cause of death has not been determined.
“Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau are continuing to investigate this incident,” the sheriff’s office said.
Miranda said fire rescue crews remained at the scene for several hours, including conducting what appeared to be an examination and cleanup of the delivery vehicle.
The identity of the driver has not been released.
Amazon released this statement to News 6:
“We’re deeply saddened by this tragic incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with the driver’s loved ones during this difficult time. We’re cooperating fully with local authorities in their investigation.”
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