Four-Vehicle Pile-up Injures Nine, Closes ABC Road South of Lake Wales

Careless and inattentive driving resulted in a complex crash that left ten injured Sunday evening in Lake Wales.

Courtesy Polk Sheriff's Office

A four-vehicle pileup on ABC Road southwest of Lake Wales Monday night sent four residents to area hospitals for treatment, Where three remain. According to investigators, one vehicle crossed the center line to smash into two others before a fourth vehicle smashed into the scene moments later.

The four-vehicle pile-up happened in two different crashes after a vehicle crossed the center line of Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff (ABC) Road, south of Lake Wales and approximately one mile west of US 27.

The crash began when a 2010 Dodge Ram reportedly crossed the centerline of the two-lane road and struck a 2019 Ford F-150 pickup and a 2013 Ford Explorer at about 8:21 p.m., reports say.

According to Polk County Sheriff's investigators, at least five occupants of those vehicles exited and were assessing the scene while awaiting help. A 2017 Chevy Silverado then "approached and collided with the Ford Explorer, causing the Explorer to rotate and strike three victims. The Chevy Silverado then struck two other victims and dragged them both for a short distance," the Sheriff's office reported.

Polk County Fire Rescue responded with multiple ambulances and arranged helicopter transport for some of the victims, with medivac helicopters reportedly employing the campus of Warner University to land.

Courtesy Polk Sheriff's Office

Vehicles were left scattered along of stretch of ABC Road Monday night after a four-vehicle crash left nine injured and the road closed for six hours.

Nine of the ten people involved received various degrees of injuries and three remain hospitalized. Two reportedly have life-threatening injuries, while a 13-year old girl also remains hospitalized with reported non-life-threatening injuries.

ABC Road was closed for approximately six hours.