WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A Winter Haven man was arrested last Tuesday night after allegedly striking another vehicle, fleeing the scene, and driving for approximately one mile before his car caught fire and came to a stop, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
The incident began around 9:25 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4th. A PCSO deputy was dispatched to Lock Street and Lake Shore Way regarding a vehicle crash, though the collision itself occurred nearby at the intersection of Lake Alfred Road and Carefree Cove Drive.
A white Nissan Altima struck a red 2024 Dodge Ram. Following the collision, the driver of the Altima reportedly left the scene. The vehicle traveled for about one mile, making two turns, before the vehicle caught fire, forcing the driver to pull over, deputies say.
The driver of the burning Altima was identified as 28-year-old Kevin Casey of Winter Haven.
When questioned by the deputy, Casey claimed he did not flee and only drove until he felt it was safe to pull over.
However, when the deputy asked why he had driven so far and made two turns before stopping, Casey reportedly became irate and refused to answer any further questions. He did, however, tell the deputy that he “knew his rights” and could not be arrested for a traffic violation.
Despite this, Casey was arrested for a traffic violation. He was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage.
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