Texting teen struck and killed by car

Polk County, Florida -- A teenager texting on his cell phone was struck and killed by an oncoming car on Sunday.

Polk deputies say 18-year-old Christopher Cepeda and three friends were trying to cross US 27 shortly before 8 p.m., just south of the intersection on Legacy Park Boulevard.

His three friends saw a tan, 1998 Buick 4-Door traveling in the inside lane and stopped. Cepeda, who was texting on his phone, did not see the car and stepped into the roadway. The car’s bumper struck the victim, throwing him over the hood and into the windshield.

The driver, Denise Sottilaro, stopped immediately and called 911.

The victim was taken to Heart of Florida Hospital and later flown to Arnold Palmer Hospital where he died Monday afternoon.

An autopsy will be conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. Charges are not expected in this ongoing investigation.