The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday evening, April 6, 2024, around 9:50 p.m. in unincorporated Lake Wales. The sole occupant and driver of a 2015 Ford Flex, 22-year-old Hannah Wieser of Winter Haven, is deceased, as well as the couple she hit head-on while they were in their Ford F-150 truck: 54-year-old Luis Rodriguez and 52-year-old Jomar Maldonado of Port St. Lucie. Their 3-year-old grandson Jaydyn was strapped into his car seat in the backseat of the truck and survived the crash. He was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to the preliminary investigation so far, Wieser was heading westbound on State Road 60 East, east of CR 630, traveling behind a blue Kia van occupied by visitors from England. Wieser entered into the eastbound lane in order to pass the Kia. When she did so, she struck the Ford F-150 that was traveling east, head-on. The Kia struck Wieser’s car after the crash but suffered minimal damage.
All of the drivers and passengers involved were wearing seatbelts. The family from Port St. Lucie were returning home from Busch Gardens. The family from England were at River Ranch and heading back to their rental in Haines City.
