BRADLEY JUNCTION, POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA | PUBLIC SAFETY | November 5, 2026
Quick Take
- A 71-year-old Lakeland man was killed Monday morning in a three-vehicle crash on State Road 37, south of Mulberry.
- Deputies say an SUV lost control on the wet road and crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting two cars.
- The driver of one of those cars ran from the scene and was later arrested, telling detectives he had no license and was in the U.S. illegally.
What’s happening?
A rainy Monday morning commute turned deadly in rural Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the crash killed a Lakeland man and sent another driver to the hospital.
A third driver, 26-year-old Grevil Said Cerrato of Honduras, left his car and ran away. Deputies later found and arrested him. According to the sheriff’s office, he told detectives he fled because he was scared, did not have a driver’s license and was in the country illegally.
Where and when?
Deputies were called around 6:10 AM on Monday, November 2, to the 9995 block of State Road 37 near County Road 630 in Bradley Junction, about 10 miles south of Mulberry.
When first responders arrived, they found the 71-year-old Lakeland man dead inside his 2006 Ford Focus. A 29-year-old Wimauma man driving a 2008 Toyota Highlander was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening. The 2010 Honda Accord driven by Cerrato was left at the scene.
By the Numbers
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Vehicles involved | 3 |
| People killed | 1 |
| People hospitalized | 1 |
| Charges against fleeing driver | 2 |
What caused the crash?
Investigators say the Toyota was heading north on State Road 37 while the Ford Focus was heading south, with the Honda behind it. Deputies believe the Toyota driver lost control because of the weather and wet roadway. The SUV crossed into the southbound lanes and slammed into the Ford, then also struck the Honda.
The sheriff’s office has not said that Cerrato caused the crash. He is charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a first-degree felony, and driving without a valid license, a misdemeanor. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also placed a hold on him.
What should you do?
Florida law requires drivers involved in any crash with injuries or death to stop, help if they can and remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives. Leaving can lead to serious felony charges, even if the driver did not cause the crash.
On wet roads, slow down, leave extra space between vehicles and avoid sudden braking or sharp steering, which can cause a car to slide into oncoming lanes.
What comes next?
The sheriff’s Traffic Homicide Unit is still investigating. Officials have not released the name of the man who died or said whether the Toyota driver will face any charges. Cerrato remains in the Polk County Jail.
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