A father is facing significant charges after his daughter dies in a tragic DUI crash and he leaves his son permanently scarred.#Florida #PolkCountyFL #News #Crime
Following a collision in November that killed his five-year-old daughter and seriously injured his three-year-old son, a father in Polk County, Florida is now facing significant charges. Kody Wills, 30, of Lakeland, Florida, is charged with driving under the influence when he caused the catastrophic collision by crashing his car into a tree. His blood alcohol content was three times higher than the legal limit, according to the authorities.
The Fatal Crash on Broadway Street
Wills was driving his 2013 Kia along Broadway Street close to Lake Parker Drive in Lakeland on the evening of November 7, 2024. He struck a tree at around 6:26 p.m. after failing to stop at a stop sign. The car caught fire as a result of the impact.
Unfortunately, his three-year-old son had severe burns to his face that left him permanently scarred, and his five-year-old daughter passed away at the scene.
The idea that Wills did not try to stop was supported by investigators’ finding that there was no indication of braking prior to the collision and that the vehicle had only gone a short distance after impact. Further evidence indicating the collision happened after Wills ran the stop sign was provided by the scene’s significant damage.
Blood Alcohol Content Three Times the Legal Limit
Wills was taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center following the collision, where police officers inspected him.
When he arrived at the hospital, Deputy Justin Register said he could smell alcohol on Will’s breath. When asked, Wills acknowledged consuming one shot of Maker’s Mark earlier that afternoon, and his eyes were moist. Wills’ blood alcohol percentage, however, was a startling 0.25 grams per deciliter, three times the legal driving limit of 0.08, according to additional testing.
The high amount of ethanol in Wills’ blood was confirmed by the toxicology report, which was received on December 26, 2024. The tests were conducted by the University of Florida Pathology Lab and showed that Wills was significantly impaired at the time of the crash, contributing to his failure to properly operate the vehicle.
Charges and Arrest
Following the investigation, Wills was arrested on December 31, 2024, and charged with DUI manslaughter (second-degree felony), DUI causing serious bodily injury (third-degree felony), and two counts of negligent child abuse (second-degree felony). He is accused of endangering the lives of his children, resulting in his daughter s death and his son s life-altering injuries.
Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the devastating impact of the crash: Nothing will bring this beautiful child back to her family, nor heal the injuries to her brother or the emotional devastation that Kody Wills has caused to so many people. We are certain that we have done everything within our power to ensure that Kody Wills is charged appropriately with every felony that he committed, and we are hopeful that justice will be served. We are aware that the past seven weeks have been a terrible experience for this family, as our detectives have made sure to cross every T and dot every I throughout this investigation. Please keep this family in your prayers.
Wills will face a first appearance hearing on January 1, 2025, as his case moves forward.
This heartbreaking tragedy has devastated a family and an entire community. The loss of a child and the lasting injuries to a young life are painful beyond words. In times like these, we are reminded of the comfort found in scripture: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). May the grieving family find strength in these words, and may our community continue to support them as they navigate through this unimaginable sorrow.
RELATED TOPICS:Accidents|Crime|Florida
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