Four Die, Seven Injured in Deadly Multi-Vehicle Crash on SR-60 East

A deadly multi-vehicle crash on State Road 60 East near Capps Road in Lake Wales has claimed the lives of four people and left seven others injured, officials confirmed.

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The collision occurred on Wednesday afternoon, 4 February 2026, prompting a prolonged closure of the highway and a full investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

According to PCSO, deputies were called to the scene around 4:00 p.m. after reports of a multi-vehicle crash involving five cars.

Initial investigations suggest that one vehicle crossed over the median into opposing traffic, triggering a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles travelling in both directions. 

The crash site quickly became chaotic as emergency responders worked to rescue occupants and secure the scene.

All lanes of SR-60 were closed for several hours as investigators processed the wreckage and cleared the roadway. 

Authorities confirmed that four people died at the scene. All four fatalities were occupants of the same vehicle, Sheriff Grady Judd said during a press briefing. 

In addition to the fatalities, seven others were injured. Two of the injured were airlifted to local trauma centres due to the severity of their injuries, while the rest were transported by ground ambulance to nearby hospitals. The current condition of those hospitalized has not yet been released. 

First responders from multiple agencies, including fire rescue and medical teams, rushed to the crash site to assist victims and manage traffic.

SR-60 remained shut down east and west of the crash site for several hours as investigators worked to reconstruct the scene and locate evidence.

Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes until the highway reopened later in the evening. 

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office homicide unit is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.

At this stage, authorities have not released specific details about why the initial vehicle crossed the median.

Sheriff Judd described the crash as “horrible” and extended condolences to the families of the victims. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses. 

Why Multi-Vehicle Crashes Are So Dangerous

Multi-vehicle collisions, especially on busy highways like SR-60, are often deadly because:

• Early impacts can force vehicles into opposing traffic.
• Secondary collisions occur at high speed.
• Occupants in lighter vehicles face greater risk of severe injury.

These chain-reaction crashes highlight the need for safe following distances, lane discipline, and situational awareness, especially in heavy traffic or mixed speed conditions.