WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A trip to a Winter Haven gas station took a terrifying turn this week when a Lyft driver accidentally pulled away from a Racetrac gas station with a small child still buckled inside the vehicle.
The incident unfolded at the Racetrac location on Havendale Boulevard after a mother and her young child arrived via the rideshare service. According to initial reports, the mother exited the car and walked toward the rear of the vehicle.
It appears the driver, seemingly unaware that the mother was circling the car to retrieve her baby from the seat behind the driver’s side, began to slowly drive away from the premises.
Finding herself separated from her child as the car merged into traffic, the mother immediately alerted the Winter Haven Police Department. Officers acted quickly, coordinating directly with Lyft’s safety team to track the vehicle and establish contact with the driver.
READ: Polk County On Alert After Bat Sparks Second Rabies Scare In Two Weeks
Upon being notified of the situation, the driver traveled directly to the Winter Haven Police Department. There, the child was found unharmed and was safely reunited with the mother.
The Winter Haven Police Department has confirmed that the investigation remains active. While the reunion ended peacefully, authorities noted that additional information regarding the circumstances of the incident will be made available once the full investigation is complete.
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
