1 Killed, 1 Arrested In U.S. 27 Crash In Lake Wales: Sheriff

LAKE WALES, FL — An 80-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning after a suspect who sped away from police crashed into the victim's car on U.S. Highway 27 in Lake Wales, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, 30-year-old Courtney Wright of Winter Haven, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license. According to deputies, a Lake Wales police officer clocked Wright driving a 2010 gray Chevrolet Equinox at 98 mph in a 60 mph zone on U.S. 27 south of Eagle Ridge Mall at 10:25 a.m. The officer tried to pull him over but Wright sped away and crossed multiple lanes of travel, according to the affidavit. He ran a red light as he sped underneath it at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Chalet Suzanne Road, and then slammed into a 2003 gray Chevrolet Silverado. The victim had the green light, according to the affidavit.

Raymond Hart, the victim, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to officers. Wright was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“Wright’s horrifically reckless behavior directly led to this terrible tragedy—an innocent man is dead and his friends and family are grieving," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Wright shouldn’t have been driving, and frankly, with his criminal history, he should have been in prison. Wright demonstrated zero concern for the lives of others—we will do everything we can to hold him accountable and see that he spends a long time in prison.”

Wright has also been charged by the Lake Wales Police Department for fleeing law enforcement, investigators said.