Lake Wales Woman Killed During Hydroplane Car Crash in Polk County

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 8, 2021

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have officially opened a formal investigation into the death of a 25-year-old woman from Lake Wales who was killed during an auto accident early Friday morning along Masterpiece Road.

It was approximately 8:15 a.m. on November 5, 2021, when local resident 25-year-old Candice Franz and her 7-month old backseat passenger were traveling in her red 2010 Nissan Versa in the northbound direction on Masterpiece Road heading toward the street’s intersection with Timberlane Road. Although the exact cause of the collision is still under review, a preliminary analysis of the accident site appears to indicate that the Nissan Versa drove through a portion of the road that was holding standing water which caused her car to hydroplane. As her vehicle was spinning out of control, it entered the southbound lane of traffic and crashed into an oncoming black Ford Mustang that was being driven by 47-year old Jeff Corey.

Members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue were immediately dispatched to the scene of the two-car crash and quickly discovered that Candice Franz had not been wearing a seatbelt and was suffering from serious life-threatening injuries. She was transported to a local hospital for additional medical treatment, however, she sadly passed away shortly after arrival. The 7-month-old baby, who was properly restrained in a car seat at the time of the crash, was unharmed in the incident but was taken to a local hospital to be checked out. The 47-year-old driver of the Ford Mustang was also driven to a local hospital where he received treatment for undisclosed injuries and was released. He was wearing his seatbelt when the accident occurred.

Authorities with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office thoroughly inspected the accident site for over three hours in order to piece together the chain of events leading up to this fatal collision. Further details surrounding the case have not been released to the public at this time.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.