Late-Night Scenic Highway Crash Kills Lake Wales E-Bike Rider

A late-night ride along Scenic Highway turned deadly Tuesday when a Lake Wales woman was hit from behind and killed while riding an electric bicycle near Babson Park, according to authorities.

Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded shortly after 10:30 p.m. to a reported two-vehicle crash on State Road 17, east of Ward Loop Road. When they arrived, they found the 56-year-old rider from Lake Wales dead at the scene.

What Authorities Say

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, deputies were dispatched at about 10:33 p.m. to the scene on Scenic Highway, also signed as SR 17, just east of Ward Loop Road. There, they found the 56-year-old Lake Wales woman deceased.

The sheriff’s post states that a 2022 Jeep Trackhawk struck the electric bicycle from behind. The Jeep’s driver, a 30-year-old man from Lake Wales, stayed at the scene and was not injured.

Deputies reported that the rider had on an orange reflective vest and that the e-bike was equipped with both front and rear lights. Investigators, however, have not been able to determine whether those lights were actually on at the time of the impact.

E-Bike Rules And Rider Visibility

Under Florida law, most electric bicycles are treated much like traditional bicycles. State guidance calls for a white front light and a rear red lamp or reflector when riding at night, with the basic idea that the more visible a cyclist is, the better the odds that drivers will see them in time.

The Florida Department of Transportation highlights helmet use and proper lighting as key safety steps for e-bike riders, noting increases in e-bike-related injuries in some Central Florida data. Resources such as FDOT and local efforts like the Lighthouse Point Police outline recommended lighting, reflective gear, and equipment for those who ride after dark.

Polk County Crash Pattern

County releases and local reporting point to a run of serious, and at times fatal, crashes along rural stretches of Polk County roads in recent months. The pattern has stirred renewed concern about lighting, speeding, and enforcement on lesser-developed corridors.

Coverage such as pre-dawn rollover tragedy and similar dispatches has highlighted the risks on portions of SR 17 and neighboring highways where riders and drivers often share space without separated bike lanes or consistent overhead lighting.

Investigation And Next Steps

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains active, with traffic detectives continuing to reconstruct the crash. At this stage, deputies say they do not expect criminal or civil charges, although the inquiry is ongoing.

Investigators are asking anyone who might have relevant dash-cam, home surveillance, or other video from the area around the time of the crash to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released the initial public details from the scene.