LAKE WALES, Fla. — Multiple fatalities were reported after a multi-vehicle crash on SR 60 at Capps Road in Lake Wales. All lanes were shut down in both directions at around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The PCSO's preliminary investigation revealed the Chevrolet Equinox and Chevy Malibu were going westbound on SR 60,in separate lanes. PCSO said the Equinox attempted to cross into the lane where the Malibu occupied, when it clipped the right front of the Malibu with its rear left corner.
PCSO said this contact caused the Equinox to rotate and cross into the center median of other vehicles in eastbound lanes, into the path of the Tacoma. The Tacoma struck the Equinox on its passenger side. The Equinox then rotated, and then hit by a Toyota Corolla, and then went into the path of a Ford F-150.
The collision in the westbound lane led to the Malibu entering the median, going into the air, and flipping multiple times, before coming to a rest in the eastbound lanes.
Four were killed in the accident, and several were injured.
All four people inside the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox died, while the driver of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu was trauma-alerted with significant injuries and sent to the hospital via ambulance. And the driver of the 2005 Toyota Tacoma was trauma-alerted with significant injuries and sent to the hospital via helicopter.
PCSO said the driver of 2018 Toyota Corolla had minor injuries and she was transported to a local hospital. The four children in her car were minimally injured and transported to a local hospital as a precaution, according to the PCSO release.
The 2025 Ford F-150 driver was minimally injured and treated by Polk County Fire Rescue at the scene of the accident.
None of the people who died in the crash are from Polk County, according to PCSO.
The investigation is ongoing.
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