The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a fatal crash in Highlands County that occurred early Sunday morning. According to officials an ATV driven by a 26-Year-Old Lake Placid man was traveling south on the southbound lane of Highlands Boulevard, approaching the intersection of Cumberland Street. At that same time, a pickup truck was traveling north on Highlands Boulevard, approaching the same intersection. Reports indicate the ATV traveled across the centerline and entered the path of the pickup causing a collision. The ATV driver was pronounced deceased on scene. The 30 year old Lake Placid man driving the truck and his female passenger were unharmed.
A carjacking suspect is in custody after a high-speed chase in Polk County. Bartow Police yesterday arrested Michael Jackson after he rammed three police cars with the pickup truck he allegedly stole. The 33-year-old allegedly stole the truck from the area of Conant Street and Highway 17 South. Officers tried pulling him over, but he kept going. Deputies and FHP troopers joined the chase until it ended near Polk Parkway and Jackson was taken into custody. He’s facing charges that include carjacking, fleeing to elude and driving without a license. No injuries were reported.
A witness is credited with stopping a woman from being kidnapped in Orlando. Police say Juan Perez threatened a woman with a knife Monday outside a Walmart at South Goldenrod Road and Market Place Drive. The 54-year-old allegedly stole a woman’s purse and tried to force her into the trunk of her car, but a witness came to her aid. Police arrested Perez yesterday. He’s charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon and attempted kidnapping. Police say Perez is already on federal probation for kidnapping in another case.
Five-million dollars is going toward improving the Sunshine State’s nursing workforce. Governor Ron DeSantis was at Daytona State College Tuesday to announce efforts to support the Florida Nursing Initiative. The money will fund education programs aimed at filling medical roles. Since 2022, the state has invested nearly 400-million dollars into nursing education. DeSantis says there are currently 18-hundred nursing graduates in the State University System, marking a record for Florida.
Gas stations across Florida are helping in the search of a Lake County child who disappeared nearly two decades ago. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Gas Station TV have partnered together to introduce a new flyer aimed at helping find Trenton Duckett. The posters will be displayed at fuel pumps statewide throughout the month to try to spread awareness. Duckett was two years old when he went missing in the Leesburg area on August 27th, 2006. The city police department has posted a photo on its Facebook page of how Duckett could look like today. Anyone with information is asked to contact the agency.
AdventHealth is trying to expand its services in Polk County. The healthcare company says it wants to build a more than 700-thousand-square-foot medical facility in South Lakeland, just south of the Polk Parkway. The proposal has plans to build a helipad and a free-standing emergency department. The Ledger reports that the project would also include a medical office, rehabilitation facility, and its own energy plant. Lakeland commissioners will need to approve a development request to allow for a hospital and other services to go on the land before anything moves forward.
A Venezuelan politician is facing charges in connection to a deadly hit-and-run in South Florida. Fifty-year-old Gilber Caro is accused of leaving the scene of a three-vehicle crash in Miami-Dade County Monday morning. Authorities say another driver ran a red light, hitting Caro and a third car in Coral Gables, which ultimately killed a man and left a woman injured. A police report says Caro left his car and ran away, instead of calling for help. The Venezuelan political party Voluntad Popular posted on X about the official’s arrest, saying they have been made aware of the incident and are waiting for more information.
A surprisingly quiet hurricane season continues. A named storm hasn’t formed in the Atlantic basin since Ernesto on August 12th. Researchers at Colorado State University say the last time that the Atlantic had no named storms form between August 13th and September 3rd was in 1968. Although there are currently no named storms, the National Hurricane Center is tracking three tropical waves for possible development. There have been five named storms so far this year, Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby and Ernesto.