POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— One child is dead and another critically injured after a hit-and-run crash in Winter Haven, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives are looking for the person responsible for hitting two children outside of their church on Wednesday night.
According to deputies, an 8-year-old child died from his injuries, and a 10-year-old is hospitalized in critical condition.
The 10-year-old is hospitalized with a broken leg, broken arm, and a skull fracture.
The kids, who are not siblings, were at a church function Wednesday night when they were hit by a vehicle.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to Faith Baptist Church on Crystal Beach Road around 8:25 p.m. regarding the incident.
Traffic homicide detectives’ preliminary investigation stated that the two children were on the west side of Crystal Beach Road, about to cross the street.
A truck passed before the kids began to make their way across the street toward the church, but were both hit by an unknown northbound vehicle.
The vehicle continued to the intersection with Winter Lake Road and turned in an unknown direction. Deputies said witnesses did not get a good description of the vehicle.
“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.
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Source: wfla
