A Davenport man was involved in two crashes early Saturday morning, April 27, 2024, the second of which was fatal.
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit identified the man as 50-year old Edgar Penaloza.
The investigation, which remains ongoing, determined that Mr. Penaloza was involved in a hit-and-run with another vehicle and fled from the scene. A short time later, Mr. Penaloza crashed his black 2005 Toyota Tundra pickup truck in a single-vehicle crash; he died at the scene.
The first crash occurred at around 12:56 A.M., as Penaloza’s Toyota was travelling southbound on North Scenic Hwy near Hickory Hammock Road. The victim of this crash reported that the Toyota was being driven aggressively—tailgating and weaving prior to the Toyota rear-ending the victim’s silver 2020 Honda Civic.
After making contact with the CIVIC and causing it to crash, the Toyota sped away. The driver of the Civic refused medical treatment.
At about 1:03 A.M., The Toyota was found crashed, off the roadway, just south of the intersection of North Scenic Highway and Egg Farm Road in an unincorporated area of Lake Wales.
Based on evidence, PCSO detectives believe Penaloza lost control of the Toyota in a curve and overcorrected. The Toyota overturned multiple times and the bed of the truck became separated from the cab.
Mr. Penaloza was not wearing his seatbelt, and he was ejected from the vehicle.
The two crash scenes were approximately two miles apart.
North Scenic Highway was closed at the fatal crash scene for approximately three hours.
