LAKE WALES, FL — A Lake Wales man has been arrested following Friday evening’s rollover crash on Highway 60 that shut down westbound lanes near 9th Street.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Lake Wales Police Department, officers responded on February 20, 2026, to the intersection of Highway 60 and 9th Street in reference to a vehicle rollover crash.
Upon arrival, officers observed a maroon Jeep in the westbound lanes with damage to the right rear passenger door. The vehicle had overturned multiple times. All occupants were outside of the vehicle and were later transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment of injuries.
Witnesses at the scene told officers that the vehicle responsible for causing the crash fled northbound on 9th Street.
According to the affidavit, dash camera footage showed a black pickup truck bearing Florida tag #QGEC01 stopped at the stop sign on 9th Street before entering Highway 60 and striking the maroon Jeep. The impact reportedly caused the Jeep to flip several times into the westbound lanes. The pickup then cleared traffic and continued north on 9th Street, leaving the scene.
A BOLO was issued for the vehicle.
While attempting to locate the truck, a witness reported that the vehicle passed her residence on 9th Street and Campbell Avenue, heading toward Lakeshore Boulevard, and that the driver was male.
Detective Walters later located the black pickup parked at a home on Lakeshore Boulevard. Two adults were inside the home. One of them was identified as Philip Lewis.
According to the affidavit, a show-up identification was conducted with a witness who identified Lewis as the driver of the pickup truck seen leaving the crash scene.
Lewis was placed under arrest.
During a search, officers reported locating a clear plastic baggie containing a white powder-based substance in Lewis’s right front pants pocket. Lewis allegedly told officers the substance was his ADHD medication, Vyvanse, and that it would not test positive for drugs.
A field test later showed a positive result for cocaine.
The affidavit also states that Lewis’s driver license had been suspended for failure to pay a traffic fine, effective January 26, 2026.
Lewis was charged with:
• Leaving the scene of a crash involving injury (Felony)
• Driving while license suspended or revoked (Misdemeanor)
• Possession of cocaine (Felony)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia (Misdemeanor)
He was transported to the Polk County Inmate Processing Center without incident.
As previously reported by Lake Wales Daily, the crash caused the closure of westbound State Road 60 between 9th Street and 11th Street and prompted a response from Lake Wales Police Department, Lake Wales Fire Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
The investigation remains active.
