'Reckless, Stupid Driving' Led To Death Of 19-Year-Old: Polk Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said detectives have arrested a 19-year-old Haines City man in connection with a crash that killed a passenger near Lake Wales on June 29.

On Tuesday, detectives charged Damien Fletcher with felony vehicular homicide.

Judd said Fletcher was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and told detectives he swerved to avoid hitting an animal in the road and lost control of the Jeep carrying a 19-year-old passenger and his 16-year-old brother.

The 19-year-old passenger was killed and his brother suffered minor injuries.

Judd said detectives reviewed the Jeep’s electronic data recorder which showed that the Jeep was traveling 104 mph in a 55 mph zone 1 1/2 seconds before the crash.

The recorder showed no braking or swerving to avoid hitting an animal, Judd said. Witnesses interviewed by detectives said the Jeep passed them at a high rate of speed in a no-passing zone and the driver shut off the Jeep’s headlights prior to the crash, which occurred at 10:29 p.m.

When presented with the evidence, Judd said Fletcher admitted that there was no animal in the road and that he was speeding. He was arrested at that time and taken to the sheriff’s processing center.

“Reckless, stupid driving — plain and simple. Because of that, a young man is dead, the victim’s brother was injured, and a family is left with a great void in their lives," said Judd. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with them. The detectives did great work uncovering the facts.”