A retired Navy SEAL who once served with SEAL Team 6 is recovering after a violent five‑car crash on State Road 60 east of Lake Wales that left four people dead and several others injured. The chain‑reaction collision sent multiple victims to area hospitals, shut down the highway for hours and left friends saying the injured veteran was so badly hurt he had to be airlifted from the scene.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters that deputies rushed out shortly after 4 p.m. to the crash on SR‑60 East at Capps Road. Preliminary findings indicate one vehicle crossed the center median and barreled into oncoming traffic. Eleven people in five vehicles were involved, and four occupants of the same vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, he said, according to Lake Wales Daily News.
Crash Details And Injuries
The Polk County Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit stayed on scene as crews worked to reconstruct the wreck and clear the roadway. Investigators say the chain started when a westbound vehicle clipped another, sending it across the median into eastbound traffic and triggering collisions with several cars. Two victims were airlifted to trauma centers, while others were taken to local hospitals, according to Lake Wales News.
Injured Man Identified By Friends
Friends and family have identified the injured veteran as Mikey Owings. A fundraiser created for him describes him as a former member of SEAL Team 6 and says he remains in critical condition after multiple surgeries, according to GoFundMe. A WFLA video of the scene, linked by Spot On Florida, shows emergency crews and investigators working the stretch of SR‑60 shortly after the wreck.
Investigation And Next Steps
Sheriff Judd said the county's homicide and traffic units are handling the investigation and that the names of the deceased have not yet been released while next‑of‑kin notifications are completed. "For reasons unknown at this early stage of the investigation, one vehicle crossed over the median into the path of other vehicles," Judd said, per Lake Wales Daily News.
Friends have launched a fundraiser to help cover medical and travel expenses. The GoFundMe page shows more than $117,000 raised toward a $140,000 goal as of Feb. 6, according to GoFundMe. Neighbors and local residents have posted messages of support online while investigators continue to piece together how the deadly crash unfolded.
