A pre-dawn ATV crash on a dark stretch of Fussell Road north of Polk City left a local man dead early Thursday, and investigators say a passing vehicle may have hit him and kept going.
At about 3:01 a.m. yesterday, deputies were called to the rural roadway after a caller reported that a Polaris Sportsman 400 ATV had crashed. When they arrived, they found a 39-year-old man with severe head trauma. Detectives say he may have been struck by a passing car after being ejected from the ATV.
According to Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd, the victim was identified as 39-year-old Brandon Roy Moran of Polk City. Deputies say they were dispatched to Fussell Road about a quarter mile east of Commonwealth Avenue, roughly two miles north of Polk City, after the crash was reported at about 3:01 a.m.
What detectives say
Traffic Homicide detectives believe Moran lost control of the ATV, was ejected and struck his head on the pavement. The sheriff's post notes the victim "remained on the ground" before he was struck by an unknown passing vehicle that did not stop. Polk County Sheriff's Office investigators kept Fussell Road closed for roughly four hours while detectives processed the scene. The investigation remains active.
How to help
Deputies say the driver of the second vehicle did not stop. Investigators are asking anyone with dashcam, surveillance or phone video from the area to call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200 or submit an anonymous tip to Heartland Crime Stoppers. Tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips app or Heartland's website, and eligible tips that lead to an arrest may qualify for a cash reward.
ATV safety and context
ATV crashes frequently produce severe head injuries and are sometimes deadly on paved roads; national data show hundreds of ATV-related deaths annually and tens of thousands of emergency-room-treated injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges helmet use, hands-on training and avoiding paved-road riding to help reduce the risk.
Polk County Traffic Homicide detectives continue to investigate. The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to preserve any footage and contact investigators. This story will be updated if officials release additional details.
