Motorcyclist Killed in Babson Park Crash

The Polk County Sheriff's Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal crash that took place early Saturday directly in front of the Babson Park station of the county's fire rescue department.

Courtesy Polk County Sheriff's office traffic homicide division

An unrecognizable hunk of twisted metal was all that remained of a Harley Davidson motorcycle following a Saturday morning crash in Babson Park. The impact took the life of a Fort Myers man and left his passenger in critical condition.

Paramedics from the station responded immediately after the impact but were unable to save the life of the Fort Myers man who was driving a 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Kenneth Ellefson, 53, was reportedly not wearing a helmet when his motorcycle collided head-on with a 1999 Mazda pickup truck in the northbound lane of Scenic Highway.

A passenger on the bike who was wearing a helmet was transported to a hospital in critical condition.

It has not been determined how the 8:37 am crash occurred, but it left the motorcycle twisted beyond recognition and seriously crushed the front of the pickup truck. According to investigators, the driver and passenger of the pick-up truck appeared to have been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, and were treated by PCFR at the scene and released.

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with knowledge of the incident is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's office.