LAKE WALES, FL — On Friday, December 12, 2025, a single-vehicle rollover crash on State Road 60 east of Lake Wales resulted in one fatality and two injuries.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 12:55 p.m., a 2007 gray Toyota Camry driven by Connor Houston Strickland, 21, of Fort Pierce, was traveling westbound near Tiger Lake Road in the Walk-in-Water community. The driver lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. The Camry rolled multiple times and came to rest in a ditch on the south side of SR 60.
The driver, Connor Houston Strickland, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two passengers, Alexandria Janae McConnell, 26, of Auburndale, and the couple’s 2-year-old son, were injured and airlifted to separate hospitals, where both are reported to be in stable condition.
Strickland and McConnell were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle. The child was secured in a child seat and was found by first responders still secured in the back seat.
A dog inside the vehicle was unharmed and transported to Polk County Animal Control.
Preliminary data indicates the Toyota was traveling at a high rate of speed in a 60 mph zone seconds before the crash.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is continuing the investigation. Nothing further at this time.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office PIO
