Helen Abram Lamar, 73, killed, Laniah Lamar, 7, Jalena Lamar, 8, seriously injured, taken to hospital, after their van collides with a tractor trailer, driven by William Alfredo Chesson Jr., on U.S. Highway 2 near Winston.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are investigating a crash that killed a mother and sent her two adopted daughters to the hospital.

Around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Helen Abram Lamar, 73, was driving on U.S. Highway 92 west of Hibiscus Parkway when for unknown reasons, she veered over the center line and into the path of an oncoming tractor trailer.

The driver of the tractor trailer tried to swerve, troopers say, but Lamar's Ford Windstar van collided with the left side and rear trailer axles of the vehicle.

The van careened off the roadway and hit a mailbox. Troopers say Lamar, of Plant City, died at the scene from her injuries.

Her two adopted daughters, Laniah Lamar, age 7, and Jalena, age 8, were seriously hurt and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

The driver of the tractor trailer, William Alfredo Chesson Jr., suffered minor injuries.

The crash closed portions of US Hwy 92 for over two hours.