Loughman, FL (July 23, 2020) - Four teenagers suffered injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Old Lake Wilson Road in Loughman on Wednesday evening. The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. in the Cypress Pointe neighborhood.

According to deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Department, officers responded to a home in the neighborhood due to noise complaints from a house party. When police arrived, they found four teenagers standing near the end of a driveway in the neighborhood. Shortly after, the teens were all struck by a black 2020 Kia Stinger. The KIA driver fled the scene following the crash.

Three of the teenagers sustained non-life-threatening injuries while one of the victims was dragged underneath the car for about 450 feet. The fourth suffered critical injuries, including internal injuries and several fractures. She was taken by helicopter to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital. The driver of the Stinger later crashed his vehicle several miles away and then fled on foot. He was eventually apprehended by officers. Following a series of field sobriety tests, he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, DUI with serious bodily injury, and leaving a crash scene.

Police continue to investigate. No further information has been released.

Our thoughts are with those hurt in this hit-and-run accident in Loughman. We hope that all of the victims make a complete recovery. 

A hit-and-run crash often causes serious and deadly injuries for victims. According to current statistics, more than 400,000 car accidents are reported every year in Florida. Of this number, about 105,000 hit-and-run collisions were reported in 2019. This accounts for about 25% of all total Florida traffic accidents. The number of hit-and-runs continues to be a problem for our state as drivers attempt to avoid responsibility for their actions. 

Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.

Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see any information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.