Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has advised the Daily Ridge that they are investigating a crash that occurred around 6:30pm Saturday night on SR 60 east of Capps Road in Lake Wales, and involved a motorcycle and two other vehicles.
According to the investigation so far, a blue 2010 Kawasaki motorcycle being operated by a Winter Haven man was heading eastbound on SR 60 in the left (inside) lane, while 21-year-old Pablo Molina of Lake Wales was traveling behind him in a white 2015 GMC truck. Just east of Capps Road, the motorcyclist moved into the right (outside) lane and ended up behind another vehicle. Molina proceeded in the left lane to move past the motorcycle, at which time the motorcyclist abruptly pulled back into the left lane, presumably to go around the car in front of him. As he did so, he struck Molina’s truck on the right passenger side, lost control, and was ejected. He was not wearing a helmet, and was declared deceased on-scene.
Molina also lost control of his truck after the impact and slid off onto the shoulder. He was not injured. The motorcycle slid into the right lane and became lodged under a grey 2022 Dodge Ram truck being driven by 31-year-old Brandi Johnson of Lakeland. She also slid off onto the shoulder. Neither she nor her passenger were injured.
The investigation is ongoing, but it does not appear at this time that either of the vehicle drivers were impaired or distracted. We have not yet notified the motorcyclist’s next of kin
