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Saturday, June 21, 2025

Saturday Evening Lake Wales Wreck Charged to DUI Driver, LWPD Says

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Photo D Scott with permission

Yesterday evening, January 18, 2025, a four vehicle accident occurred at Hunt Brothers Road and Highway 60 in Lake Wales. We now know that that accident was caused by a driver who has been charged with several crimes.

Lt. Dale Hampton, public information officer at Lake Wales Police Department, has confirmed that Damian Kochanowski, date of birth 09/19/1999, was arrested last night and has been charged with, “DUI with property damage and serious bodily injury; possession of Alprazolam; possession cannabis over 20 grams; possession of drug paraphernalia; delivery of cannabis.”

Hampton says that Kochanowski failed FST’s (field sobriety tests) and is suspected to have had a “narcotic influence.”

According to LWPD, Kochanowski was driving the at fault vehicle, when he crashed into vehicle 2, which was stopped, and caused a chain reaction 4 -car crash. 

“Alprazolam was found in his pockets…125 grams of marijuana was found prepackaged along with $9200 in the car,” says Hampton.

The accident sent three adults to the hospital; Polk County Fire Rescue says one was transported by helicopter, and two went to the hospital via ambulance.

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Maria Iannucci

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