A 19-year-old Bartow resident died yesterday after an all-terrain vehicle crash at the River Ranch Hunt Club near Lake Wales, according to Polk County deputies. Deputies and rescue crews responded to the remote property, where they found the rider unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the sheriff's office has opened an investigation into what led to the fatal wreck.
What deputies said
According to WTSP, Polk County deputies said the crash happened on River Ranch Hunt Club property and confirmed the victim was a 19-year-old from Bartow. Deputies have not released the rider's name, and investigators are working to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Officials are asking witnesses or anyone with information to reach out to investigators.
Where it happened
The River Ranch Hunt Club is a gated recreational area used for hunting, camping and off-road riding, and the association lists 18550 County Road 630 E in Lake Wales as its mailing address, according to River Ranch Property Owners Association. Much of the property is remote, with dirt trails and campsites that can make emergency response and scene processing more challenging. Access to large portions of the land is controlled through membership and gate passes.
ATV risks and past crashes
River Ranch has seen deadly ATV incidents before. Local reporting documented fatal crashes on the property in 2016 and 2017, when riders were trapped under overturned machines or suffered traumatic injuries, per DailyRidge. Those earlier deaths prompted renewed calls from first responders and property managers for riders to wear helmets and follow safety precautions when using off-road vehicles.
Investigation ongoing
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office traffic unit are processing the scene and collecting evidence as they investigate the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 863-298-6200, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office.
