POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A North Lakeland motorcycle crash on Saturday night claimed the life of a 26-year-old fugitive riding a stolen bike, according to investigators. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified the rider as Kyle Cole, a New Port Richey man who had been on the run since a violent encounter with deputies just a week prior.
The accident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Knights Station Road. Witnesses told deputies Cole was tailgating another vehicle on a 2024 Suzuki before losing control.
The bike flipped, throwing him onto the roadway. Although bystanders attempted CPR, Cole died from his injuries at a local hospital. A driver in a passing Jeep Cherokee, who remained at the scene to cooperate with police, may have struck the motorcycle after it fell.
READ: Wesley Chapel Man Blows .269, Takes Dying Passenger Home After Fatal Crash
Investigators at the scene discovered the Suzuki had been reported stolen in late October, adding to Cole’s extensive list of active warrants. He was wanted for multiple felonies, including aggravated battery on law enforcement.
On November 21, deputies say Cole rammed several patrol vehicles to escape a traffic stop at a local Circle K, eventually causing $100,000 in damage to a private ranch during the subsequent chase.
Sheriff Grady Judd noted the tragic irony of the situation in a statement following the crash.
“This suspect, at a very young age, displayed blatant disregard for the law and it ultimately cost him his life,” Judd said. “Had he not fled from us on November 21st… he would have been safely housed in the jail and not recklessly driving a stolen motorcycle a week later.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
