Saturday they saddled up, Wednesday they’ll be here. The 2023 Cracker Trail Ride is underway. The 120 mile treck is in its 35th year, with about 120 riders and wagonners making their way from Bradenton across central Florida to Fort Pierce.
It’s the annual tribute to Florida cowmen – who used to drive cattle along the route to market.
The Half-Way mark is at Highway 27, where the riders make their ceremonial crossing carrying American flags. That will happen about noon Wednesday.
The processional currently is making its way through Hardee County.
One person was killed and another seriously injured in a 2-car accident yesterday near the Bear’s Den at Highway 27 and State Road 70.
Florida Highway Patrol reports indicate a vehicle driven by a 41-year-old Lake Placid woman was traveling north in the southbound lane of Highway 27 and ran head-on into a car driven by an Immokalee man.
A passenger in her car – a 69-year-old Sebring man was killed, and a passenger in the second vehicle, a 30-year-old Immokalee man, was seriously injured.
The incident remains under investigation.
Two people were killed Friday in a Hardee County traffic crash. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a 52-year-old Fort Lauderdale man was driving west on State Road 66 near Skipper Road when his Toyota
Corrola went left of center and slammed into an oncoming car.
The Fort Lauderdale man was killed, as was a passenger in the second vehicle, a 46-year-old Wauchulla woman. The driver of the second car, a 47-year-old Wauchulla man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The incident remains under investigation.