A 47-year-old Winter Haven woman died yesterday after a vehicle reportedly turned into the path of her motorcycle, throwing her from the bike at the intersection of Highway 17 and Avenue O SW, authorities said. First responders shut down the roadway while they worked the scene. The rider was later identified as 47-year-old Shena Carty, who was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Crash details
According to WTSP, Polk County detectives said Carty was riding a 2006 Suzuki when a 2013 Mercedes entered her lane and struck the motorcycle. The collision threw Carty from the bike, and she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The driver of the Mercedes, who was wearing a seatbelt, was treated for minor, non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives said the crash remains under investigation.
Investigation and contact
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said detectives are collecting evidence, reviewing witness statements, and examining any available video. Anyone with information or dash-cam footage is asked to call the sheriff's non-emergency line at 863-298-6200 or contact the public information officers through the agency newsroom. Authorities have not released additional details while the inquiry continues.
Why this matters locally
Motorcycle crashes remain a serious safety problem in Florida. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recorded 9,548 motorcycle crashes and 621 motorcycle fatalities statewide in 2023, according to its Traffic Crash Facts report. Those numbers underscore how quickly an intersection collision can turn deadly for riders, and why investigators pay close attention to right-of-way and driver actions in these cases.
