A routine Wednesday night drive in Winter Haven ended in tragedy when a 23-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle crash, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the collision happened just after 7 p.m. near the intersection of 3rd Street Southwest and Avenue G Southwest, a normally busy cut-through that turned into a major crash scene in a matter of seconds.
How Deputies Say The Crash Unfolded
According to Tampa Bay 28, a 2025 Nissan Rogue was headed north on 3rd Street Southwest when the driver tried to move into the inside lane in front of a 2020 Ford pickup.
Deputies say the rear of the Nissan clipped the Ford's front bumper, then the Rogue veered into the median and crossed into oncoming southbound traffic. That is where it collided head-on with the motorcycle that was traveling in the inside lane, turning a brief lane-change maneuver into a fatal chain reaction.
First responders found the rider ejected from the bike with severe trauma. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Victim Identified
The rider was identified as 23-year-old Bryson Love, who investigators say was wearing a helmet when he was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered extensive head and body trauma, according to Yahoo News.
Authorities say multiple people approached the Nissan driver at the scene, and video from the area shows her getting out of the SUV visibly distraught in the chaotic moments after the impact.
Driver's Account And Scene Response
The Nissan driver told deputies she was driving home from church when she turned onto 3rd Street Southwest, felt what she described as a "bump," and then lost control of her SUV, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
Deputies said she showed no signs of impairment and has no criminal or adverse driving history, details that will likely factor heavily into whatever conclusions investigators eventually reach.
Investigators noted that the Rogue's airbags deployed on the initial impact. After striking the pickup, the SUV continued over curbs and shoulders before finally coming to a stop near Avenue C Southwest, leaving behind a long trail of debris and stunned witnesses.
Investigation Ongoing
The Polk County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is leading the case and has asked anyone with information or dash-cam footage to contact detectives, according to the agency's news page on the Polk County Sheriff's Office site.
Investigators are reviewing witness statements, vehicle data and physical evidence from the roadway as they work to determine what exactly contributed to the deadly crash. No charges have been announced at this time.
