Lakeland Woman Arrested in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash
Lakeland, FL – On August 22, 2025, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24-year-old Aliya Cruz of West Highland Street, Lakeland, charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony.
On August 18, 2025, at approximately 3:50 a.m., a 911 call reported a female lying in the middle of West Highland Street. First responders found Danielle Stilwell, born September 12, 1997, deceased in the roadway. Vehicle parts, including a front driver’s side fender liner and a piece of a front bumper, were found at the scene, identified as belonging to a 2019-2022 Kia Forte. No vehicle was present.
Surveillance footage from a Sunoco at Wabash Avenue and West Highland Street showed a black sedan traveling westbound from the crash site, making a right turn onto Wabash Avenue, a U-turn, and then returning west on West Highland Street without stopping.
Deputies identified a black Kia Forte parked at a residence on West Highland Street, missing a driver’s side bumper piece and front left wheel fender liner, matching the parts at the scene. The vehicle was registered to Aliya Cruz, who was confirmed as its sole driver.
Cruz stated she left her residence at 3:50 a.m. on August 18 to drive to her job at the Publix warehouse on South County Line Road, Lakeland, following her usual route on West Highland Street. She reported an oncoming truck with high beams impaired her vision, and after it turned, she saw a woman lying in the roadway with hands over her face.
Cruz claimed she swerved right to avoid the woman, drove into the grass, and believed she did not strike her. She continued to work without stopping or reporting the incident.
Security footage and badge access records at the Publix warehouse confirmed Cruz’s arrival. She showed her supervisor photos of her vehicle’s damage and stated she “possibly killed someone.” The supervisor advised her to contact police. Cruz made conflicting statements, including “I know I didn’t hit them” and “I don’t think I hit the person.”
On August 22, 2025, Cruz was interviewed again, confirming she took photos of her vehicle’s damage at work and expressed uncertainty about striking the pedestrian. She was arrested and charged the same day.
Souce: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
