The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a crash that occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in unincorporated Winter Haven on Cypress Gardens Blvd. near the intersection with U.S. Hwy 27.
A 2021 Jeep Gladiator being driven by a 52-year-old man from Bartow was heading west on CGB, moving from the right lane into the left lane, when the Jeep began to hydroplane. It was raining most of the day and the roads were wet. The driver lost control and the Jeep crossed over the raised center median and into the path of a 2023 Nissan Sentra that was heading eastbound. A head-on collision occurred, causing the Sentra to rotate, and the Jeep to roll onto its side. A 2016 Audi that was behind the Sentra also collided with the Sentra, due to being unable to avoid it. The driver of the Sentra, a 60-year-old woman from Haines City, was killed. She was the only occupant of her vehicle.
The driver of the Audi, a 58-year-old Winter Haven man, and the driver of the Jeep, both had minor injuries; they were taken to a local hospital. They were each the only occupants of their vehicles.
CGB was closed for approximately 4 hours last evening.
