The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating two major crashes that took place on Sunday evening, September 22, 2024.
The first incident, a multi-vehicle collision, occurred south of Lake Wales on Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Road. Four vehicles were involved, resulting in injuries to nine out of ten occupants.
Two individuals remain in critical condition, and a 13-year-old girl is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Read: Bradenton Woman Killed In I-4 Collison In Polk County, Palmetto Man Seriously Injured
The investigation suggests that the crash was initiated when a Dodge Ram crossed the center line, causing a chain reaction involving three other vehicles.
The second crash happened shortly after the first, north of Lakeland on Rockridge Road. A single vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, veered off the road and collided with a power pole. Sadly, the driver, 22-year-old Jerome Cooke of Lakeland, was found deceased at the scene.
Both incidents resulted in road closures for several hours while authorities conducted their investigations. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about either crash to come forward.
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