One Dead in Devastating Three-Vehicle Crash on Busy Polk County Highway

Information and Photos were sent to iSkyNews.com by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published May 17th, 2026

_____

News Brief

• One person was killed in a devastating multi-vehicle crash on SR-570 in Polk County early Monday morning.

• The crash involved a Ford pickup truck towing a utility trailer, a Toyota sedan, and a tractor-trailer.

• Troopers say traffic had slowed when one driver failed to stop in time, triggering the fatal chain-reaction crash.

• The victim was a 42-year-old Winter Haven man.

• The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate.

A tragic crash along State Road 570 in Polk County claimed the life of a Winter Haven man during the early morning commute Monday, leaving behind a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly lives can change on Central Florida roadways.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the deadly collision happened at approximately 6:10 a.m. on May 18, 2026, as westbound traffic on SR-570 began slowing for congestion ahead.

Investigators say a tractor-trailer and a Toyota sedan were traveling westbound in successive order and had reduced speed with surrounding traffic. Behind them, a Ford pickup truck towing a utility trailer failed to slow in time.

Troopers say the pickup slammed into the rear of the Toyota with significant force, propelling the sedan forward into the back of the tractor-trailer in a violent chain-reaction collision.

The driver of the Toyota, a 42-year-old Winter Haven man, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Ford pickup, identified as a 26-year-old Auburndale man, was not injured. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 50-year-old Lakeland man, was also unhurt.

The crash caused major disruptions during the busy morning commute as emergency crews responded and investigators worked to document the scene.

For one family, what began as a routine Monday morning ended in unimaginable tragedy.

The crash remains under active investigation.

Source: Information and Photos were sent to iSkyNews.com by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

Stay with iSkyNews.com for continuing updates.

_____

iSkyNews.com | Trusted Local Coverage — Safety Creator and Contributing Journalist for Citizen 

📲 Join and follow iSkyNews on Citizen: https://go.citizen.com/iskynews

Follow iSkyNews.com for breaking news, public safety updates, and community alerts across Florida and Arizona.

💬 See something we missed?
If you spot an error or have additional information, please reach out: support@iskynews.com

© 2026 iSkyNews.com — All rights reserved.  Unauthorized use, copying, or redistribution of this content is strictly prohibited.

_____

fatal Polk County crash, SR 570 fatal accident, Florida Highway Patrol crash investigation, Winter Haven fatal crash, Polk County traffic accident, deadly chain reaction crash Florida, SR 570 traffic delays, Central Florida breaking news, iSkyNews Polk County, fatal morning commute crash