A GMC Sierra came to rest atop a concrete barrier on the Polk Parkway after FHP says the 22-year-old driver crashed while applying stick deodorant behind the wheel. No injuries were reported. Photo: Florida Highway Patrol / Graphic: iSkyNews.com

FHP: Driver Applying Deodorant Crashes on Polk Parkway — A Reminder to Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent

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POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A morning drive on the Polk Parkway took an unusual turn Morning after a driver reportedly crashed while applying stick deodorant behind the wheel.

According to information provided directly to iSkyNews.com by the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 7 a.m. on September 14, 2026, along State Road 570, also known as the Polk Parkway.

FHP said a 22-year-old Auburndale man was driving a GMC Sierra westbound near Mile Marker 14 when he entered a curve in the roadway.

At the same time, troopers say the driver was applying stick deodorant.

The Sierra collided with a crash attenuator before eventually coming to rest on top of a concrete barrier wall.

Fortunately, despite the unusual resting place of the pickup, FHP reported no injuries.

While showing up to your destination smelling fresh may be important, this crash serves as a reminder that personal grooming is probably best handled before putting the vehicle in Drive. In other words: apply deodorant before hitting the road — not while hitting the barrier.

The incident also highlights a broader and much more serious issue on Florida roadways: distracted driving.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles defines a distraction as anything that takes a driver's hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or mind away from driving. While cellphones are often the first thing people associate with distracted driving, FLHSMV says distractions can also include eating, interacting with passengers, listening to loud music or adjusting entertainment and navigation systems.

Preliminary FLHSMV data for 2024 showed nearly 300 people were killed and more than 2,200 suffered serious bodily injuries in crashes involving distracted drivers. The agency also reported that a crash occurs approximately every 44 seconds in Florida and about one in seven crashes involves a distracted driver.

The takeaway from Sunday's Polk Parkway crash is thankfully one that can be delivered with a little humor because nobody was hurt: Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel — and your deodorant in the bathroom.

Source: Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), information provided directly to iSkyNews.com; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

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