POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 33-year-old Auburndale man died early Sunday morning after his car veered off the road and struck a tree near Winter Haven, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders were dispatched to the scene on Thornhill Road, just north of Sugar Creek Road, at approximately 3:02 a.m. Emergency crews found the driver deceased inside his vehicle upon arrival.
A preliminary investigation by traffic homicide detectives indicates that the man was driving a gray Toyota Corolla southbound on Thornhill Road. As he approached a curve, he failed to navigate the turn, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. The car then struck a large tree on the driver’s side.
Investigators noted that the driver was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred.
The incident forced authorities to close Thornhill Road for roughly three hours while teams cleared the scene and gathered evidence. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
READ: Late-Night ATV Trail Ride Turns Fatal For Bartow Teen At River Ranch Hunt Club In Polk County
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