A late‑night crash along U.S. 27 in Haines City turned deadly early Friday when a car collided with a tractor‑trailer and then plowed into a church building, authorities said. The driver, identified as 24‑year‑old Jovanna Saily Reyes of Bowling Green, died in the wreck. The crash shut down the busy highway near B. Moore Road for several hours and brought a large emergency response to the scene.
According to a post by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on X, deputies say a 2020 Hyundai Sonata driven by Reyes struck the side of a 2019 Volvo semi‑truck and trailer that had just completed a legal U‑turn to head north on U.S. 27. Investigators say the car went under the trailer, crossed the median, broke through a chain‑link fence and slammed into the exterior wall of First Apostolic Pentecostal Church. The truck’s driver, a 24‑year‑old woman from Tampa, was not hurt.
Bowling Green woman killed in Haines City Friday after her car collided with a semi trailer and church building
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) April 17, 2026
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred early Friday, April 17, 2026, that resulted in the death of one of the drivers.… pic.twitter.com/LpP7BMnCsG
Investigators' preliminary findings
Polk County sheriff’s traffic homicide detectives said they found no pre‑impact skid marks at the scene and noted that “speed of the Hyundai appears to be a factor” in the collision, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. First responders were dispatched at about 12:29 a.m., and U.S. 27 was closed in both directions for roughly five hours while crews documented the scene and cleared the roadway. The agency identified the victim as Jovanna Saily Reyes of Bowling Green as its investigation continues.
No charges expected as probe continues
The sheriff's office said “civil or criminal charges are anticipated,” the Polk County Sheriff's Office added, as detectives continue to examine the circumstances of the crash. Officials are asking anyone who may have dash‑cam or surveillance footage from the area around the time of the wreck to contact PCSO's Traffic Homicide Unit. As of Friday morning, the church had not issued a public statement about the collision or the damage to its building.
Local impact
First Apostolic Pentecostal Church is listed at 600 B. Moore Road, according to local listings, and investigators say an exterior wall of the building was struck in the crash. The address appears in the area church directories. No timeline for repairs or any reopening plans had been posted on Friday morning as investigators and building inspectors continued to assess the damage.
