Polk County deputies are looking for a hit-and-run driver after a dark midsize SUV slammed into two children outside a Winter Haven church on Wednesday night, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition. The crash happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. as the children crossed from a grassy parking area toward the church building. Detectives with the Traffic Homicide Unit say the driver took off instead of stopping, and they are urging anyone who saw what happened to speak up.
According to 10 Tampa Bay, the collision occurred near Faith Baptist Church and involved a dark midsize SUV that did not stop after striking the children. First responders pronounced one child dead at the scene and rushed the other to the hospital in critical condition. Investigators told the station the children had been crossing from a grassy parking lot to the church building when they were hit.
Per the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the agency's Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is leading the case and is asking anyone with dash-cam or surveillance video from the area to contact detectives. Anonymous tips can be shared through Heartland Crime Stoppers.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Under Florida law, a driver who leaves the scene of a crash that results in death can face felony charges and a lengthy license revocation, as outlined in the Florida Statutes. The law requires drivers involved in a crash that causes death or serious injury to stop, stay at the scene and provide reasonable assistance. Walking away from a crash like this is not just callous, it can be prosecuted as a serious felony.
How to help
Anyone with information, dash-cam footage or surveillance video tied to the crash is asked to call the PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit at 863-668-3100 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-TIPS. The crash happened near Faith Baptist Church; community members seeking updates or support can find the congregation's contact details at Faith Baptist Church.
