FLORIDA — A 30-year-old woman has been arrested after deputies say she used methamphetamine before a hit-and-run crash that killed an 8-year-old boy and critically injured another child Wednesday night in Winter Haven.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 8:25 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting that two children had been struck by a vehicle on Crystal Beach Road. Investigators said the boys had been attending a church function and had crossed the road before being called back across the street when an SUV struck them and drove away.
The 8-year-old boy died from his injuries. A 10-year-old boy suffered a broken arm, a fractured femur and a compound skull fracture. Authorities said he remains in critical but stable condition.
Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored midsize SUV. Deputies later located pieces of plastic at the crash scene believed to be from the lower portion of a vehicle.
Investigators said Victoria Johnson, 30, later contacted the sheriff’s office and reported that her dark blue 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe had been stolen. Deputies eventually located Johnson and questioned her about the vehicle.
During the investigation, Johnson admitted she had been driving the SUV the night of the crash and said she believed she might have hit someone. Authorities also said she admitted to being a regular methamphetamine user and had used the drug before driving that evening.
Deputies later located the vehicle being driven by a man identified as Corey Stewart. Stewart and another passenger, Mya Bass, were taken into custody after allegedly refusing deputies’ commands to come out of a residence.
A preliminary search of the SUV revealed damage, missing parts and possible biological evidence consistent with a pedestrian strike, investigators said.
Johnson has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, tampering with evidence, driving without a license causing death, and providing false information to law enforcement.
She is scheduled to make her first court appearance Friday.
The investigation remains ongoing.
