The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that occurred on SR 60 East near the intersection with Capps Road in Lake Wales around 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
The vehicles and occupants involved were:
2012 Chevrolet Equinox – all four people inside this vehicle died
2020 Chevrolet Malibu – the driver of this vehicle was trauma-alerted via ambulance from the scene with significant injuries; he had no passengers
2005 Toyota Tacoma – the driver of this vehicle was trauma-alerted via helicopter from the scene with significant injuries; he had no passengers
2018 Toyota Corolla – the driver of this vehicle had minor injuries and she was taken to a local hospital; the four children in her car were minimally injured and transported to a local hospital as a precaution
2025 Ford F-150 – this driver was minimally injured and treated by PCFR at the scene; he had no passengers
All of the drivers are adults.
Video Provided by East 60 Storage Lake Wales
According to the investigation so far, which includes physical evidence, witness statements, and video from the area, it appears that the Equinox and Malibu were heading westbound on SR 60, each in its own lane. The Equinox attempted to move into the lane that the Malibu occupied, clipping the right front of the Malibu with its rear left corner, causing the Equinox to rotate and cross the center median and then into the eastbound lanes and into the path of the Tacoma. The Tacoma struck the Equinox on its passenger side, causing significant intrusion into the car and killing all four occupants.
The Tacoma then rotated and was hit by the Corolla, and then went into the path of the F-150.
The impact of the two vehicles in the westbound lane also caused the Malibu to enter into the median and then become airborne and flip multiple times. It came to a rest in the eastbound lanes – it was not hit by any other vehicles.
None of the deceased are from Polk County and deputies are still working to locate and notify their next of kin. The investigation is ongoing.
