WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a deadly single-vehicle crash that happened southwest of Winter Haven on Monday afternoon, July 8, 2024.
At around 3:06 PM, police and fire rescue responded to the accident on Spirit Lake Road, south of the Oakwood Estates community. Two teenagers were found trapped in a white 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck.
The 17-year-old male driver from Winter Haven was pronounced dead at the scene.
Read: Winter Haven Man Killed In Rollover Crash On South Lake Howard Drive
The 15-year-old female passenger from Deltona sustained serious injuries including head trauma, brain bleed, facial fractures, lung damage, and broken bones. She was taken to a Tampa hospital in critical but stable condition.
Investigators believe the truck was heading south on Spirit Lake Road when the driver lost control while navigating a curve. The truck veered off the west side of the road and hit a tree.
The investigation is ongoing to determine if the seat belts were used and whether wet roads due to rain contributed to the crash.
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