Toddler Survives Being Ejected From Car During Winter Haven Crash

WINTER HAVEN, FL – Winter Haven Police are investigating a crash on Sunday, March 25, that caused a toddler to be ejected through the back window of a car. The 2-year-old boy survived and is expected to be released from the hospital Monday, March 26.

At 5:05 p.m., a silver Buick LeSabre driven by 23-year-old Arteshia Cowart of Winter Haven pulled away from a stop sign at Avenue K NW and U.S. 17 into the path of a Ford F150 pickup truck.

The pickup, driven by 48 year-old Bryan Whiddon of Auburndale, hit the driver's side passenger door of Cowart's car, causing the car to rotate counterclockwise.

Cowart’s children, age 2 and 3, were in the back seat of the car at the time. The impact sent the 2-year-old boy through the car’s back window. He landed on the sidewalk along the southbound lane of U.S. 17. Cowart’s car then rolled backward, missing the child by a few feet.

The Buick came to rest against a van that was parked in the Northgate Plaza at Hungry Howie's Pizza.

The 2-year-old was flown to St Joseph's Hospital in Tampa where he is listed in good condition and is expected to be released.

Cowart and her 3-year-old daughter were transported to Lakeland Regional Health where they were both treated for minor injuries.

Whiddon’s passenger, 56 year-old Rita McCall, was also transported to Lakeland Regional Health where she is was listed in stable condition with injuries to her leg.

Cowart had her children secured in car seats. Investigators are trying to determine if the seats were installed property and if the children were belted into the car seats correctly.

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