According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, a car veered off U.S. 17 in Winter Haven early Saturday and slammed into the side of an abandoned building near Fifth Street Southwest. Emergency crews arrived at the scene shortly before 2:30 a.m. to find a Mazda sedan lodged against the vacant structure after the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.
According to Tampa Free Press, the Mazda drove off the roadway before colliding with the side of the empty building. First responders pulled three victims from the damaged vehicle and rushed them to a local hospital as trauma alerts, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
Police and Fire Crews Descend on Fifth Street Southwest
The Winter Haven Police Department and Winter Haven Fire Department both responded to the crash scene, as noted by WFLA. The two agencies also provided courtesy images from the site, showing the extent of the damage to the vehicle and the building it struck.
It's not yet clear what led the sedan to leave the road along U.S. 17.
Key Details Still Unreleased
Officials have not released the names, ages, or current medical conditions of the three people who were hospitalized.
With the investigation still active, further details about the circumstances of the crash may emerge as the Winter Haven Police Department continues its work. For now, the scene near Fifth Street Southwest stands as a stark reminder of how quickly a routine overnight drive along U.S. 17 turned into a scramble for first responders and a trip to the hospital for three people.
