ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.
A 17 year old male from Lake Wales was killed in a violent early morning crash on Interstate 4 that left multiple others seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. on April 19, 2026, on westbound I 4 near mile marker 66 in Orange County.
According to FHP, a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling westbound when the vehicle suffered a right rear tire blowout. Troopers say the sudden failure caused the SUV to lose control and overturn multiple times, coming to rest across the shoulder and median.
During the crash, one passenger was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the eastbound lanes of I 4.
A 2017 Lexus, driven by a 34 year old male from Sanford, was traveling eastbound and struck the ejected passenger. The Lexus also had a 28 year old female passenger. Neither were injured.
The ejected passenger, a 17 year old male from Lake Wales, was transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The driver of the SUV, an 18 year old male from Bartow, along with several passengers, were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.
Passengers in the SUV included:
• an 18 year old male from Bartow
• a 16 year old male from Babson Park
• an 18 year old female, city unknown
• a 17 year old female from Babson Park
• an 18 year old female from Lake Wales
• a 19 year old female from Lake Wales
Troopers reported that at least one occupant in the SUV was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
** The Florida Highway Patrol does not release name.
Here is video by WFTV of the crash scene: https://www.wftv.com/news/orange-county-i-4-crash-kills-ejected-passenger/6a76b5a9-1052-467c-8661-071f9bca3dc2/
