Sebring Police Department was on scene of a multiple vehicle accident this afternoon just before 2:30pm in the Southbound Lanes of US Hwy 27 and New Life Way.
The fatality accident involved a bicyclist and two vehicles, one of which had rolled over. Unfortunately the 21 Year-Old Male bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two patients from the rollover vehicle were flown to a local trauma hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two patients from the second vehicle were transported to a local hospital.
This scene is now clear and the accident will remain under investigation.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025, an incident was reported on Mountain Lake Cut-Off Rd. in Lake Wales regarding a vehicle in a lake.
According to Carrie Horstman, public information officer for Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a wireless caller observed a vehicle in a small lake, about a half-mile west of Hwy. 27. The caller is said to have gone into the water to assist extracting someone from the 2015 yellow Chevrolet Camaro submerged in the water.
No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was removed from the lake with the assistance of a tow truck.
Winter Haven Firefighters were on scene early this morning of a residential fire that has displaced a family.
The call came in at approximately 5:10 am this morning, January 24, 2024 at a home on Silver Fox Drive SE in Winter Haven. The family got out safely with no injuries. When fire crews arrived, flames were coming through the roof of the home.
Additional information will be sent as it becomes available.
Winter Haven Police are investigating a shooting that occurred overnight at the Briarcrest Apartments on Ave. K SE in Winter Haven January 23 into January 24, 2025.
The victim has non-life threatening injuries and is being treated for the injuries.
There is no danger to the public.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
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.
The replacement of gate valves and chlorine storage tanks, along with emergency repairs to sewer lines, are some of the public works projects recently approved by the City of Lake Wales.
At their regular meeting on Tues. Jan. 21, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve its consent agenda, which included three items related to public works projects.
The first consent agenda item was for emergency repairs in the sewer shed for lift station service areas. The repairs will be performed by Innovative Pipeline Systems, through which the city will enter into an agreement.
As the agenda memo explains: “The wastewater facilities have been experiencing higher flows at the wastewater treatment plant and higher lift station run times…[and as such] the old clay gravity sewer mains and needs to be repaired immediately.”
Nearly $53,600 is expected to be expended on these repairs, with $300,000.00 having been budgeted in the Wastewater Division’s Capital budget for this fiscal year.
The second item will be for the replacement of a 12-foot check valve and gate valve at a high-service pump in the water treatment plant. These replacements will be made through Coastal Pump and Equipment.
As the agenda memo explains: “The valves allow the water plant to operate at its full capacity.”
Replacing both valves will cost approximately $32,480, of which $225,000 has been budgeted in the utilities operational budget for this fiscal year.
The third and final item will be the replacement of chlorination storage tanks at the water treatment plant. These replacements will be purchased from and installed by Odyssey Manufacturing.
The original tanks being replaced were installed in 2008. As the agenda memo states: “Due to the corrosive nature of various chemicals involved in the water treatment process, it becomes necessary for components associated with those chemicals to require periodic maintenance and replacement to ensure continued operation.”
Replacing these tanks will cost approximately $23,500, of which $225,000 has been budgeted in the Utilities Operating Budget for this fiscal year.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office has provided the following initial summary of last night’s fatal crash on Cypress Gardens Blvd.:
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.
Alan John Ferrero, known affectionately as Al and A.J., passed away on January 20, 2025, at the age of 85. Born in Glen Cove, NY, on June 26, 1939, son to Peter and Eileen Ferrero, A.J. was a man of great character, love, and devotion to his family and community.
A.J. had a passion for baseball in his youth and was known for his talent on the field. However, he chose to serve his country in the U.S. Navy, where he earned the rank of Radioman Third Class after 4 years. After his service, A.J. worked for the Long Island Railroad for nearly three decades before retiring and moving to Winter Haven Florida with his wife, Kendra, in 1992.
In retirement, A.J. embraced his many roles as a son, husband, father, grandfather, coach, and friend. He was known for his kindness, generosity, and willingness to help anyone in need. Whether at the Sertoma Park, coaching youth baseball, or coaching soccer, or enjoying a leisurely cruise with Kendra, A.J. lived life to the fullest with a humble heart. He loved simple pleasures, like vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup, and always found joy in the company of those he loved.
A.J. was preceded in his death by his parents, Peter and Eileen Ferrero. A.J. is survived by his wife of 45 years and partner of 48+ years, Kendra; five children, Alan (Nancy), Janice, Kevin (Alyssa), Erik, and Kenny (April); nine grandchildren Johnny, Alexis, Deanna, Teagan, Emily, Miley, Karissa, Lydiana, and Alyssa; and two grand-dogs. He was also a beloved coach and mentor to countless children through his 30+ years of volunteering and coaching baseball at Sertoma Park.
Funeral Arrangements:
Oak Ridge Funeral Care
2425 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
Viewing: Monday January 27th from 6-8pm
Funeral Service: Tuesday January 28th at 10am
*Burial Service: Tuesday January 28th at 1:30pm- will be at Bushnell National Cemetery
One person is dead, and two others injured, in the traffic accident on Cypress Gardens Blvd. near Hwy. 27 on January 23, 2025.
Brian Bruchey, Public Information Officer at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, has confirmed that the crash occurred around 5:31 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Cypress Gardens Blvd., west of US 27, was facing traffic issues for both eastbound and westbound traffic.
Bruchey has also confirmed one fatality as a result of the crash.
Polk County Fire Rescue PIO Nathaniel Gale says PCFR extricated one person from one of the vehicles that caught fire, and put the fire out. Two patients, neither considered a trauma alert, were transported by ground to the hospital.
For clarification for those asking about a possible second vehicle accident at the same spot around 8:25 p.m., PCFR has advised that it is NOT a second crash; however crews were on scene attending to the deceased individual from the earlier accident.
We will update this article if more information is released.
