Driver Attempts To Walk Away From Lakeland Crash: Sheriff

LAKELAND, FL — A driver tried to walk away after a crash with damage in Lakeland Friday night, the sheriff said.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd on X, on Friday night at about 10:45 p.m. PCSO deputies responded to a reported traffic crash in the 600 block of Dromedary Court in Poinciana.

The caller said that a black Dodge Caravan struck his parked vehicle in his driveway, and that the driver got out of the van and was walking away, officials said.

The man even tried stopping the driver from leaving, but he continued walking, the sheriff said.

The person whose vehicle was hit provided dispatch with a detailed description of the man, and as deputies responded to the area, he was located walking near the Family Dollar store on Walnut Street, the sheriff said.

He was identified as 42-year old Steven Mori, who lives in the Osceola-side of Poinciana, the sheriff said.

Moti denied driving the vehicle, which is registered to him, but refused to speak further, the sheriff said.

During the investigation, deputies also found two mailboxes that were damaged in the path of the van's crash, officials said.

Moti was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and charged with three counts of leaving the scene of a crash with property damage; he was also issued a citation for failure to provide information, officials said.