Executive Summary
- A 52-year-old scooter driver died after a collision on U.S. 27 in Polk County on Christmas Day.
- Investigators state the man was attempting to cross lanes when he was struck by a vehicle.
- Deputies noted the rider was not wearing a helmet and was thrown 75 feet upon impact.
- Law enforcement officials do not suspect impairment or excessive speed by the car driver.
A 52-year-old man operating a scooter was killed in a vehicular collision on Christmas morning along U.S. 27 near Davenport, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reported that the crash occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. near the intersection with Jacks Road. Investigators determined that the scooter driver was exiting a parking lot and attempting to cross from the outside lanes toward the inside lane when he traveled into the path of a sedan driven by a 26-year-old man.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the force of the impact propelled the scooter operator onto the vehicle’s hood and windshield before he was thrown approximately 75 feet from the point of collision. Authorities noted that the man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
First responders arrived at the scene to find the scooter driver unresponsive and immediately initiated CPR, deputies said. He was transported to a local hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators stated that the occupants of the car were wearing seatbelts and the vehicle’s airbags did not deploy. Deputies indicated that neither impairment nor excessive speed appear to be factors on the part of the car driver, who remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.
Traffic Safety Investigation
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its inquiry into the fatality to finalize the official sequence of events. While preliminary findings suggest the motorist was not at fault regarding speed or impairment, traffic homicide investigations typically involve a comprehensive reconstruction of the scene to verify right-of-way and visibility conditions. This incident highlights the critical safety risks associated with entering high-speed thoroughfares like U.S. 27 from commercial driveways, particularly for operators of open vehicles lacking protective gear.
