Man Found Dead After Being Struck By Hit-And-Run Vehicle In Lake Wales

LAKE WALES, FL — The Polk County Sheriff's Office is seeking a hit-and-run driver after a man's body was found on the side of State Road 60 in unincorporated Lake Wales Thursday morning.

According to the sheriff's office, around 3:25 a.m., deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a report of a person lying on the side of S.R. 60 near North Airport Road.

The preliminary investigation determined that sometime between 1 and 3:20 a.m., a 42-year-old Lakeland man was walking near the fog line on the north edge of eastbound S.R. 60 when he was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle continued west on U.S. 98 without stopping, said the sheriff's office.

There was limited lighting in the area at the time of the crash, according to the news release. Polk sheriff's detectives said it appears the victim may have been struck by a large commercial vehicle, and the driver may not have realized he hit a pedestrian.

If anyone has any information, contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200. Tips can also be made anonymously to Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).