Child And Man Die In SR 544 Crash With Drunken Driver: Troopers

POLK COUNTY, FL — A 5-year-old child and 70-year-old man were killed in a head-on collision early Sunday morning on State Road 544, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A 27-year-old Winter Haven man, who is accused of driving under the influence, was driving a sedan with the child as a passenger southbound on SR 544 near Avenue Y NE at 1:31 a.m. when he crossed over onto the northbound lane and collided with the northbound SUV driven by the 70-year-old man, investigators said.

The 70-year-old, of Winter Haven, died at the crash scene, troopers said.

The child later died at a local hospital, detectives said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said charges are pending for the 27-year-old driver, who was seriously injured in the crash.

Due to Marsy's Law privacy provisions, the Florida Highway Patrol will not release the names of the victims.