Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious vehicle crash on the evening of December 7, 2023. Crash dispatched at about 10:12pm at 2919 Havendale Blvd in Winter Haven (at 31st Street)
Witnesses said that the white BMW and white Hyundai were racing each other in the eastbound lanes of Havendale Blvd.
The BMW slammed into the rear of the black Nissan, which had just pulled out of Dino’s to head east. The Hyundai then hit the passenger side of the Nissan, and the Nissan ended up in the westbound lanes.
The driver of the BMW was 17-year old Braeden Loeb of Auburndale (taken to hospital, in stable condition).
The driver of the Hyundai was 18-year old Kaiden Huntley of Winter Haven (not injured)
The driver of the Nissan was 45-year old Prudence Cole of Winter Haven (transported to hospital without significant injury)
There were five passengers in Cole’s Nissan: 27yr old (transported, no significant injury), 10yr old (to hospital by air, broken leg), 7yr old (to hospital by air, broken leg), 7yr old (to hospital by air, broken leg), 2yr old (transported, no significant injury)
Criminal and/or civil charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, which is ongoing.
Jenet Braxton says, “All have a long road to recovery with one child still in ICU.”
