Fatal car crashes in Polk County, Florida
From 2020 through 2024, 719 people died in 665 crashes on roads in Polk County, Florida.
That is 16.9 deaths a year for every 100,000 residents, above the Florida rate of 14.7 and above the US rate of 12.1.
US-27 had more fatal crashes than any other road here: 61, killing 65.
A large truck was involved in 16% of fatal crashes here, against 10% statewide.
In 2024, 113 people were killed, 16% fewer than in 2020 (134).
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2020-2024 · population: Census 2024 estimate, 852,878 · checked October 2, 2026
people killed in crashes, 2020-2024 (665 crashes)
deaths a year per 100,000 residents (Florida 14.7, US 12.1)
pedestrians killed, 17% of all deaths here
of fatal crashes involved a driver police reported as drinking
Where the fatal crashes happened
Each dot is one crash that killed at least one person, placed at the coordinates in the police report.
The deadliest roads in Polk County
US-27 leads with 61 fatal crashes in five years. Roads are counted by the name in the crash report; a highway's frontage roads and ramps count toward it.
| # | Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US-27 | 61 | 65 |
| 2 | US-98 Fl35 | 53 | 59 |
| 3 | SR-60 | 48 | 62 |
| 4 | US-17 Lake Alfred Rd | 39 | 43 |
| 5 | I-4 Eb Exit Ramp | 33 | 37 |
| 6 | US-92 Magnolia Ave | 33 | 33 |
| 7 | SR-37 Florida Ave | 18 | 20 |
| 8 | SR-33 Commonwealth Ave | 16 | 16 |
| 9 | SR-540 Cypress Gardens Blvd | 16 | 16 |
| 10 | SR-17 N Scenic Hwy | 14 | 15 |
Deaths by year
Polk County ranks 7th of 65 Florida counties by deaths and 36th by death rate (1st = highest), among counties with 10 or more fatal crashes.
When crashes turn deadly
55% of fatal crashes here happened in the dark. The single deadliest hour was 7 pm to 8 pm.
Saturday had the most fatal crashes (116), and 31% fell on a Saturday or Sunday.
By month, March was the worst (69 crashes across the five years).
What was involved
Shares of fatal crashes (or of deaths) in Polk County, next to Florida and the US. Red marks a share at least a quarter higher than the state's.
| Factor | Polk County | Share | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding was a factor a driver coded by police as speeding, racing or too fast for conditions | 77 | 12% | 10% | 28% |
| A driver had been drinking police reported alcohol involvement for at least one driver | 155 | 23% | 20% | 26% |
| A large truck was involved a truck over 10,000 lbs | 107 | 16% | 10% | 13% |
| Hit-and-run a driver left the scene | 48 | 7% | 8% | 7% |
| Pedestrians killed share of all deaths | 125 | 17% | 22% | 18% |
| Motorcyclists killed share of all deaths | 114 | 16% | 19% | 15% |
| Bicyclists killed share of all deaths | 31 | 4% | 6% | 3% |
| Teens (15-19) killed share of all deaths | 39 | 5% | 6% | 7% |
After a crash in Polk County
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Get the crash report
Statewide copies come from Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Florida Crash Portal, cost $10.00 per report (section 321.23, Florida Statutes) plus a $2.00 convenience fee per online transaction and are usually ready Reports may take up to 10 days to become available. For the first 60 days after the report is filed it is confidential and released only to the people listed in section 316.066(2)..
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Know your deadline
Florida gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: Before suing the state or a city/county/agency you must present the claim in writing within 3 years after it accrues (2 years for wrongful death); sovereign-immunity damage caps also apply.
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Who pays
Florida is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, with at least $10,000 (medical and disability), plus $5,000 death benefit required, and you can sue the other driver only past the state's threshold. Get your first medical care within 14 days of the crash, or PIP will not pay your medical benefits.
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If you were partly at fault
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but if you are found more than 50% at fault you recover nothing (rule effective for negligence actions filed after March 24, 2023, HB 837).
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The other driver’s minimum coverage
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Florida. Both take under a minute.
Cities in Polk County
| City | Deaths 2020-24 | Per 100K a year | Pedestrians | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | 101 | 16.2 | 25 | 124,990 |
| Winter Haven | 25 | 8.3 | 1 | 59,975 |
| Haines City | 22 | 10.5 | 3 | 42,073 |
Nearby counties
| County | Distance | Deaths 2020-24 | Per 100K a year | Pedestrians | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardee County, Florida | 32 mi | 59 | 45.3 | 11 | 26,068 |
| Osceola County, Florida | 35 mi | 324 | 13.8 | 55 | 468,058 |
| Hillsborough County, Florida | 42 mi | 1,120 | 14.2 | 283 | 1,581,426 |
| Orange County, Florida | 45 mi | 925 | 12.1 | 264 | 1,533,646 |
| Highlands County, Florida | 47 mi | 141 | 25.7 | 12 | 109,778 |
| DeSoto County, Florida | 53 mi | 69 | 37.6 | 9 | 36,744 |
| Manatee County, Florida | 53 mi | 337 | 14.7 | 90 | 458,352 |
| Pasco County, Florida | 55 mi | 520 | 15.8 | 122 | 659,114 |
About these numbers
FARS counts every crash on a public road in which someone died within 30 days. It leaves out the far larger number of crashes that only injured people. Places are as coded in the report: a crash on a county road just outside city limits counts for the county, not the city. Rates use the Census 2024 population estimate and the five-year average.