A Lakeland man who lost his 5-year-old daughter in a fiery crash is now being charged with her death, according to deputies.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said on Dec. 31, detectives arrested K W, 30, of Lakeland for allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the crash.
On Nov. 7, 2024, Willis was driving on Broadway Street near Lake Parker Drive at around 6:26 p.m. when he ran a stop sign and crashed into a tree, a PCSO affidavit stated.
The vehicle then caught on fire with the daughter and his 3-year-old son inside.
A Good Samaritan named A S said he heard the father’s cries for help and managed to rescue the little boy, but the girl did not survive.
S spoke to 8 On Your Side after Willis’ arrest, saying he was infuriated by the allegations.
“I had to watch someone burn to death because of him and his mistakes,” S said. “He could have helped me.”
“He knows right from wrong,” he added. “He’s a grown man. He knew he had no business drinking and driving and putting his kids in danger.”
Authorities said W’ son survived with serious burns to his face, which will permanently scar him. The suspect suffered a broken ankle and other fractures to his ribs.
According to the affidavit, Deputy J R arrived at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and spoke to W in the emergency room at around 8:39 p.m. While speaking with the victims’ father, the deputy said he noticed multiple signs of impairment.
“Deputy R could smell the odor of what he commonly associates with an alcoholic beverage coming from W’ breath,” the affidavit stated. “Additionally, W’ eyes appeared watery. Post-Miranda, Wills admitted he was driving his vehicle at the time of the crash and that the only passengers in the vehicle were his juvenile children which he had just picked up from their grandfather’s residence.”
The document said when asked about the smell of alcohol, W said he had a shot of Maker’s alcohol at about 1 p.m.
However, upon multiple tests of W’ blood, a toxicology report from the University of Florida Pathology Laboratories released on Dec. 26 showed that W had a blood-alcohol level of .25 grams of ethanol per liter of blood, over three times the legal limit.
The children’s mother, L D, said this news has traumatized her and robbed her of her daughter.
“It’s a very traumatizing event,” she said. “It’s literally a tragedy I have to live with for the rest of my life. I don’t deserve it. Nobody deserves it.”
Denies also said that the charges are not enough and “never will be.”
“Nothing will bring this beautiful child back to her family, nor heal the injuries to her brother or the emotional devastation that K W has caused to so many people,” Sheriff G J said. “We know that it has been a horrific seven weeks for this family while our detectives made sure to cross every T and dot every I throughout every step of this investigation; we are confident that we have done everything in our power to ensure K W is charged appropriately with every felony that he committed, and hopeful that justice will be served. Please continue to pray for this family.”
W is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Jan. 1, 2025.
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Source: wfla
