A fatal crash early Wednesday morning claimed the life of a Lake Wales man on Old Polk City Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:13 a.m. on May 14, 2025, just east of County Road 557. Authorities say both vehicles—a Ford F-150 pickup truck and a tractor-trailer—were traveling westbound when the crash happened. The tractor-trailer had come to a stop for traffic ahead when the pickup truck failed to stop and rear-ended the larger vehicle.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 61-year-old man from Lake Wales, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 38-year-old man from Avon Park, was not injured in the collision.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. No further details have been released at this time.
Sergeant Steve Gaskins of the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the information.
