Victoria Johnson, a 30-year-old Florida woman, was arrested for allegedly striking two boys—ages 8 and 10—with her SUV outside Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven on March 11, 2026, killing the younger child at the scene and critically injuring the other with a broken arm, femur, and skull fracture.
She faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash with death and serious injury, tampering with evidence, and driving without a license causing death; deputies noted vehicle damage, missing parts, and possible biological matter consistent with a pedestrian strike.
Incident Details
The boys were crossing Crystal Beach Road after a church event, waiting for a truck before entering the roadway, when Johnson’s northbound 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe hit them around 8:30 p.m.; she fled without stopping.
The next day, she falsely reported the SUV stolen, claiming she lent it to a friend, but later admitted driving, possible involvement in hitting someone, methamphetamine use that night, and giving it away—jokingly suggesting it might be “at the bottom of a lake.”
A man driving the damaged vehicle was briefly detained for resisting arrest.
Victim and Community Response
Authorities withheld the boys’ names; the 10-year-old was last reported in critical but stable condition.
Faith Baptist Church posted a grief-stricken Facebook message, requesting prayers, privacy for the families, and noting full cooperation with Polk County Sheriff’s investigators.
Legal Status
Johnson, a prior DUI offender whose license was suspended, is jailed with a court date of April 14.
