POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Traffic Homicide Unit has arrested a 41-year-old Auburndale man suspected of running over and killing a 21-year-old woman in Winter Haven during the early morning hours of September 28, 2025, and then fleeing the scene.
Francisco Lapierre, 41, of Auburndale, has been booked into the Polk County Jail and is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony. He is scheduled for a first appearance hearing this afternoon, October 14, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. near the Kulture nightclub on 1st Street North. Winter Haven Police Department (WHPD) initially responded to a shots fired call at the location.
Shortly after, a woman was struck in the roadway by a vehicle whose driver immediately fled. WHPD officers provided immediate aid to the victim before PCSO assumed the traffic homicide investigation. The woman later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
According to the investigation, the main witness stated that she and the victim had crossed the southbound lanes of 1st Street North and were waiting in the center grass median when the victim decided to cross the remaining northbound lanes. At the same time, detectives believe Lapierre was driving his 2005 Porsche Cayenne, fleeing the vicinity of the shooting.
The witness told deputies that Lapierre applied his brakes before striking the victim, but then allegedly backed over her before speeding away from the scene. Several other witnesses also reported seeing the dark-colored SUV hit the victim and immediately leave.
Detectives launched an extensive investigation, reviewing numerous videos and following public tips, which ultimately led them to identify the suspect vehicle. They discovered the vehicle had recently been re-registered to a man in Palm Beach County. Upon interviewing the new owner, he confirmed his uncle, Lapierre, had transferred the SUV to him and that he had no knowledge of the crash.
A subsequent forensic examination of the Porsche confirmed its involvement in a crash where it ran over an object or person.
When interviewed by detectives, Lapierre reportedly admitted to “running something over” and then continuing to drive away. He also confirmed that he then transferred the vehicle to his nephew.
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