
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has released the following statement regard to last night’s fatal traffic crash on ABC Road:
Around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th, the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a homemade go kart being struck by a Hyundai Elantra on Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Rd (ABC Rd) in Bartow. A 33-year-old man who lives in the area was operating the go kart with a 38-year-old male passenger, traveling west on ABC Road. As he slowed down to turn left onto a private driveway, the go kart was struck from behind by the Hyundai being driven west by a 21-year-old Lakeland woman. The driver was completely ejected and the passenger was partially ejected, significantly injuring the driver and fatally injuring the passenger. The driver of the Hyundai was not injured and remained at the scene. The go kart driver was airlifted to a local hospital, where he is in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing.