One child is dead and another badly injured after a hit-and-run crash in Winter Haven, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives are seeking the person who hit two children outside of their church on Wednesday night.
According to deputies, an 8-year-old died as a result of his injuries, while a 10-year-old is in critical condition at the hospital.
The 10-year-old is in the hospital with a fractured leg, a broken arm, and a head fracture.
The kids, who are not siblings, were at a church gathering Wednesday night when they were struck by a car.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were summoned to Faith Baptist Church on Crystal Beach Road around 8:25 p.m. in response to the incident.
According to preliminary traffic murder detectives’ findings, the two children were on the west side of Crystal Beach Road, about to cross.
A truck went by before the children began to cross the street toward the church, but they were both hit by an unknown northbound vehicle.
The car continued until it reached the crossroads with Winter Lake Road, where it turned in an unknown direction. Deputies stated that witnesses did not provide a detailed description of the car.
“Our detectives and crime analysts have been working all night using every available resource to identify the vehicle, and ultimately the driver who chose to flee, rather than help those two children. We are praying for the families and friends of the children, and for the child who is in hospital bed fighting for his life,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Anyone with information on the hit-and-run can call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. To remain anonymous, call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 888-400-8477.