Early Sunday in Lake Wales, a traffic stop on State Road 60 went sideways in a hurry. Deputies say a Tampa man tore down the highway at nearly 100 mph, lost control on a neighborhood street, then tried to disappear into a Publix before getting hauled off to jail.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office identified the driver as 37-year-old Joseph Kyle Leighly of Tampa. According to the agency, a deputy first tried to pull over a black Toyota at about 12:47 a.m. after clocking it around 97 mph on State Road 60 near Lake Wales. Instead of stopping, investigators say, the driver took off.
Deputies report that the vehicle eventually lost control and crashed on Carver Street. The driver then bailed out and ran. The foot chase ended a short time later at a nearby Publix, where deputies say they found Leighly and took him into custody.
ARRESTED: 37-year-old Joseph Kyle Leighly of Tampa.
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) June 14, 2026
At approximately 12:47 am on Sunday, June 14th, a PCSO deputy noticed a black Toyota traveling about 97 mph on State Road 60 near Lake Wales.
A traffic stop was conducted, and as the deputy walked up to the vehicle, it sped… pic.twitter.com/02ERotpO1y
Deputies’ account of the stop, pursuit and arrest
In a post on X, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd laid out the basic timeline. A PCSO deputy spotted the black Toyota on State Road 60 and hit it with radar at about 97 mph, then attempted a traffic stop. Deputies say the driver sped away, the car crashed on Carver Street, and the suspect ran off on foot before being tracked down at Publix.
After the arrest, deputies collected breath samples that reportedly came back at 0.092 and 0.091. The sheriff's office says Leighly was booked into the sheriff’s processing center and is facing a stack of charges: fleeing to elude (F2), DUI with property damage (M1), third-offense DUI (M1), resisting without violence (M1), reckless driving with property damage (M1), driving with a suspended or revoked license (second offense, M1), and dangerous excessive speeding (M2). PCSO also notes he had an outstanding Hillsborough County warrant for violation of probation.
How Florida treats BAC and repeat DUI cases
Under Florida law, anything at or above a 0.08 breath-alcohol level is treated as legal proof that a driver is impaired. Florida Statute 316.193 states that a breath level of 0.08 or more “gives rise” to a presumption of impairment.
Penalties climb fast for repeat DUI offenders, and they increase even more when a crash causes property damage or injuries. Multiple DUI convictions can lead to longer license revocations, ignition-interlock requirements, and other enhanced penalties. On top of that, administrative actions for prior violations or a refusal to blow can hit a driver’s license before the criminal case is finished.
SR 60 safety and prior incidents
State Road 60 in Polk County has a reputation among deputies for dangerous speeds and serious wrecks, and it is a stretch they watch closely. Past coverage has highlighted just how volatile the corridor can be. In one 2017 incident, a motorcycle reportedly topped 110 mph, leading to a confrontation that ended in a deputy-involved shooting, as reported by ClickOrlando.
For now, PCSO says Leighly remains booked at the sheriff’s processing center on the charges listed by the agency. Upcoming court dates and formal case filings will be posted through the Polk County Clerk of Court as the case moves ahead.
