State Road 64 at Bennett Road in Hardee County was shut down in both directions yesterday after a crash that the sheriff's office said involved fatalities, snarling traffic on a key east-west route through the area. Eastbound drivers are being pushed onto County Road 665, while westbound traffic is detoured to County Road 663. Deputies warned the detours could be in place for an extended stretch while investigators work the scene.
According to the Hardee County Sheriff's Office, crews are on scene at State Road 64 West and Bennett Road and the full closure is in place to give crash investigators room to work safely. The agency's initial update confirmed the detour routes for eastbound and westbound traffic but did not release the names of those involved or any details about what caused the collision.
Detours and traffic impacts
Drivers in the area should brace for delays and follow posted instructions from deputies and traffic crews while the scene is cleared. The current detours funnel traffic onto smaller county roads that can back up quickly once a state road is closed, so things may feel tight for a while. Motorists planning to travel through central Hardee County this afternoon are urged to build in extra time or consider other options such as U.S. 17 or nearby state highways.
Intersection has a history of serious crashes
This stretch of SR 64 near Bennett Road has seen deadly crashes before. As noted in FDOT Heartland TIM meeting minutes, a fatal crash at SR 64 and Bennett Road in June 2023 led to hours-long closures and a multi-agency response. FOX 13 also covered that 2023 wreck, highlighting why investigators sometimes keep major roads closed for extended evidence collection and reconstruction.
What officials say and next steps
State law calls for a detailed crash report any time a collision results in injury or death, and those official records are kept by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FLHSMV notes that reports and confirmed details can take several days to compile and release. The Hardee County Sheriff's Office has not identified the victims in its initial Facebook post, and additional information is expected only after next-of-kin notifications and key steps in the investigation are completed.
