Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies have identified the deceased boat driver involved in the single fatal boat crash from this morning on Lake Eloise in unincorporated Winter Haven. The deceased is 51 year old Michael J. McCarson of Winter Haven. His next of kin have been notified. After a thorough search of the area, and after interviewing those who know and who were with Mr. McCarson prior to the crash, detectives are ruling out any other victims related to this boat crash. Detectives have determined an approximate time of the crash to be at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning (this morning), September 9, 2023.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is investigating the crash. We received a call this morning at around 6:50 a.m. from a fisherman reporting there was a disabled boat in the water that had run into a cypress tree. Deputies responded and discovered one deceased person in the water—identified as Mr. McCarson. At this point it appears to be a single boat crash where the boat collided with a cypress tree in the lake. The crash occurred near the north shore of the lake. Deputies will continue to investigate what circumstances may have led to the crash.
