LAKELAND, FL (December 30, 2022) – On Friday, December 30, 2022, at approximately 5:26 a.m., Unform Patrol was dispatched to a reported submerged vehicle along the west side of Lake Wire. Upon arrival, the officer found a vehicle submerged in the water approximately 15 feet from the shoreline. Members of the Lakeland Fire Department and the Dive Team were dispatched to the location to ready the vehicle to be removed and searched. As the divers began removing the vehicle from underwater, they noticed the front driver’s side window down and at least one adult inside the vehicle. After the car was pulled from the lake, two children were also located inside the car.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division and members of the Forensic Services Unit responded to the area and began processing the scene. Preliminary information indicates that this was not a traffic crash, and there were no apparent signs of trauma on any of the people in the vehicle. Detectives believe the persons found are a 35-year-old mother and her two sons, ages 4 and 9. The bodies were transported to the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
This is still very early in the investigation, and no additional information will be available this weekend. An update will be provided after the Medical Examiner’s Office completes its examination.
The names of the deceased are being withheld while next-of-kin notifications are made.
