Winter Haven Woman Used Meth Before Crash That Killed Boy, Injured Another: Police

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A Winter Haven woman admitted to using methamphetamine before this week's crash that killed an 8-year-old boy and left a 10-year-old boy with multiple injuries, according to an arrest affidavit.

Victoria Johnson, 30, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death and other counts in connection with the Wednesday incident, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

According to authorities, the investigation began at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday when deputies received 911 calls from Faith Baptist Church located on Crystal Beach Road at Winter Lake Road in Winter Haven. Callers told deputies that two boys had been hit by an unknown vehicle traveling north on Crystal Beach Road, which then fled the scene.

Authorities said the boys were at a church function that evening, and had crossed over to the west side of Crystal Beach Road when they were called to come back across the street. They waited for a truck that was heading southbound to pass them, then went into the road, at which time authorities said they were hit by Johnson.

The 8-year-old boy was fatally injured in the crash, while the 10-year-old boy suffered a broken arm, a broken femur, and a compound skull fracture. He is in critical but stable condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Interviews with witnesses indicated the suspect vehicle might have been a dark-colored mid-sized SUV. Two vehicle parts were located within the crash scene — both were small plastic pieces consistent with the lower part of a vehicle. Video surveillance from the area near the intersection showed the southbound truck, and then a dark-colored SUV heading northbound. The SUV is then seen heading east onto Winter Lake Road.

On Thursday, authorities said the Polk County Sheriff's Office received a call from Johnson, who wanted to report her dark blue 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe as stolen. Deputies found her near the intersection of Spirit Lake and Thornhill Roads, where authorities said she told them that her car was stolen the night before.

According to the sheriff's office, Johnson told deputies that she loaned her car to someone who didn't return it, but later admitted to driving on Tuesday night and that she "thought she might have hit someone." Authorities said she told deputies she gave the SUV to a man named Cory Stewart "to get rid of it" and thought it might be at the bottom of a lake somewhere.

While deputies were interviewing her, authorities said Johnson also admitted to being a regular methamphetamine user and that she had used methamphetamine before driving her vehicle on Tuesday night.

Arrest Leads To Second Investigation

After deputies arrested Johnson, authorities said they spotted her SUV being driven by Stewart with a female passenger identified as Mya Bass.

Deputies followed the SUV to the residence located at 4336 SR 60, authorities said, where both Stewart and Bass ran inside and refused orders to come out.

During the incident, authorities said deputies found solid waste, trash and a dozen waste tires on the property. Detectives inspected the property and found other items, including household trash, household goods, children's toys, construction materials, furniture, toilets, open containers of water, and a fire pit over 8' in diameter with burned household trash in it, authorities said.

Stewart, Bass and four additional residents were arrested and charged with operating an unpermitted landfill, improper storage of waste tires without a permit, burning prohibited materials, having an open burn over 8 feet without a permit, and keeping nuisance property injurious to health.

Those also arrested were Leigha Bass, Catherine Cantrell, Barbara Ann Busbee and Nicholas Davis.

Additionally, Stewart was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license. He and Bass were also charged with resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary search of the Hyundai revealed damage, missing parts and potential biological matter consistent with a pedestrian strike, authorities said.