In Winter Haven, an impaired truck driver collided with a local business. The Winter Haven Public Safety Department reported the incident, stating, "Today around 1:15 pm, the driver of this truck is suspected of being impaired after swerving in traffic on Hwy 17 causing many drivers to reportedly take evasive action before plowing into the side of the Refrigeration and Electric building located at 635 6th St NW."
According to the Winter Haven Public Safety Department, the crash occurred after the driver's erratic behavior on the road forced other motorists to maneuver quickly to avoid collisions of their own. Standing just feet away from where the truck met the building's side, one worker at the Refrigeration and Electric narrowly escaped injury. Despite the substantial risk and potential devastation inscribed in such moments, there were no reported injuries.
The driver's failure to perform field sobriety tests led to his transport to Winter Haven Hospital for medical clearance, followed by a trip to Polk County Jail, the department detailed. Highlighting the alternatives at hand, the Winter Haven Public Safety Department reiterated the availability of AAA's FREE tow service, which aims to prevent such incidents. "Don't take a chance - use a designated driver, ride share or call 1-888-2-Tow-2-Go," the Department urged. The service, as it was noted, is available through January 2, 2025.
