POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is making a renewed plea to the public for information as the eighth anniversary of a fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of Haines City man Leonard Wimberly.
On October 28, 2017, just after midnight, 56-year-old Leonard Wimberly was tragically killed while riding his three-wheeled bike westbound on Masterpiece Road near Longhorn Drive. His bike was struck from behind by a westbound pickup truck, the driver of which failed to stop and render aid.
Key Evidence Points to Specific Truck Model
Traffic Homicide investigators were able to recover a crucial piece of evidence left at the scene: a side-view mirror broken off the suspect vehicle upon impact. Based on this evidence, authorities believe the hit-and-run driver was operating an older Dodge 2500 or 3500 pickup truck, possibly a 1998 to 2009 model.
Despite this significant clue, the investigation into Wimberly’s death remains open and active, though investigators have not received any new leads in the case.
$6,000 Reward for Information
To encourage anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward, Heartland Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to $6,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for this tragedy.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who may have seen the crash, knows someone who drives the suspected vehicle and had recent front-end damage around that time, or has any information—no matter how small—to contact law enforcement.
How to Submit a Tip Anonymously
If you wish to provide information but remain completely anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers directly at 1-888-400-TIPS (8477). If an arrest is made based on your anonymous tip, you may be eligible for the cash reward.
READ: Wanted In Polk County: Reckless Driver ID’d After High-Speed Chase, Crash In Highland City
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