Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
The driver of a 2007 gray Toyota Camry was killed Friday afternoon, December 12, 2025, and two passengers were injured.
Traffic Homicide detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as: Connor Houston Strickland, 21, of Fort Pierce, Florida (deceased); his girlfriend Alexandria Janae McConnell, 26, of Auburndale (stable condition); and the couple’s 2-year old son (stable).
Deputies were dispatched at about 12:55 pm to the crash scene on State Road 60 near Tiger Lake Road, near the Walk-In-Water community, east of Lake Wales.
For reasons not yet determined, the driver (Mr. Strickland) lost control of the westbound vehicle; it rolled and came to a rest in a ditch on the south side of SR 60.
Mr. Strickland and Ms. McConnell were not wearing seat belts, and both were ejected from the car.
The child was secured in a child seat and was found by first responders still secured in the back seat.
McConnell and the child were flown separately to two different hospitals.
A dog was also found in the car. It was taken to Polk County Animal Control.
The preliminary investigation found that the Toyota was traveling 74 mph (in a 60 mph zone) about four seconds prior to the crash.
Westbound SR 60 was closed for about one hour, while the eastbound side was closed for two hours.
This investigation remains ongoing.
