39-year-old Jose Antonio Rosa Negron / PCSO
By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published May 7th, 2026
News Brief: What We Know
- The Incident: A brutal road rage attack occurred at the intersection of Helena Road and Cypress Gardens Boulevard in Winter Haven at 4:48 PM on May 6.
- The Attack: A truck driver blocked a victim's car, opened the door, and repeatedly struck the victim with a hammer.
- The Witness: The victim’s children were inside the vehicle and witnessed the entire violent encounter.
- The Arrest: Jose Antonio Rosa Negron, 39, of Lakeland, was arrested Thursday morning on multiple felony charges.
Hammer Attack in Front of Children: Lakeland Trucker Arrested After Brutal Road Rage
WINTER HAVEN, FL — A Wednesday afternoon drive turned into a scene of "violent and brutal" terror for a local father and his children after a Lakeland truck driver allegedly launched a hammer-wielding assault during a road rage dispute.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Helena Road and Cypress Gardens Boulevard around 4:48 PM on May 6. Upon arrival, deputies found a victim bleeding heavily from a broken nose, while the aggressor had already fled the scene.
According to witness statements, the nightmare began when two trucks hauling rocks cut the victim off on Cypress Gardens Road. After the victim passed the trucks and stopped in a turn lane, one of the truck drivers—later identified as 39-year-old Jose Antonio Rosa Negron—deliberately pulled in front of the victim's car, pinning it in place.
What followed was a level of violence that shocked even veteran law enforcement. Investigators say Rosa Negron forced open the victim's car door and began punching him. He then allegedly retreated to his truck to retrieve a hammer, using it to repeatedly strike the victim. The attack continued as Rosa Negron reportedly grabbed the victim by the hair and slammed him to the pavement.
Perhaps most disturbing was the audience to the violence. "The suspect furiously attacked another driver... Making the situation worse was that it all happened in front of the victim’s children who were in the vehicle with him," said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Detectives tracked down the owner of the rock-hauling trucks, leading to the identification and arrest of Rosa Negron on Thursday morning. He has been booked into the Sheriff's Processing Center on several severe charges, including:
- Burglary with Battery
- Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon
- False Imprisonment (4 counts)
A mugshot of Rosa Negron was provided to iSkyNews.com by the Polk County Sheriff's Office as he awaits further legal proceedings.
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