Bartow, FL – On September 15, 2025, at approximately 7:55 p.m., a 65-year-old male pedestrian from Lakeland was fatally struck by a vehicle at the intersection of US 98 and Lyle Parkway in Bartow, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. First responders arrived at the scene and confirmed the victim sustained fatal injuries.
The vehicle, a 2022 BMW X6, was traveling north in the inside lane of US 98 at approximately 45 mph, the posted speed limit. The pedestrian was also in the inside lane at the time of the collision. There is no crosswalk at this intersection.
The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and remained at the scene to cooperate with the investigation. Northbound US 98 was closed for approximately four hours as traffic homicide detectives and forensic investigators processed the scene.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is working to notify the victim’s next of kin, who are out of state. No criminal charges are anticipated at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office PIO
