Lake Wales Biker Killed During Rear-End Crash in Polk County

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 11, 2022

On July 8, 2022, authorities with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an area along Buck Moore Road in response to a motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a 37-year-old biker from Lake Wales.

According to preliminary collision reports from the responding officers with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, it was close to 6:15 p.m. last Friday evening when 37-year-old Lake Wales resident G.W. Sowell was driving his white Harley-Davidson in the northbound direction of Buck Moore Road at a high rate of speed. As the motorcyclist approached a curve near the road’s intersection with Bel Ombre Circle, he attempted to pass the other northbound motorists by entering the southbound lane and driving around them. This dangerous decision positioned his motorcycle in a no-passing zone as well as the direct path of oncoming traffic. At some point during this maneuver, Sowell swerved back into the northbound lane to avoid a collision with one vehicle and rear-ended a nearby sport utility vehicle.

The impact from the first accident caused the 37-year-old biker to be ejected from his motorcycle and as a result, he sustained severe head injuries and trauma. After Sowell was thrown from his Harley-Davidson, the unmanned bike continued forward where it crashed into several other vehicles on its collision course, including an unmarked 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck belonging to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and a 2014 Mazda CX 9 SUV.

The on-duty lieutenant who was behind the wheel of the PCSO pickup truck immediately radioed law enforcement agencies and emergency teams for backup & medical treatment, then rushed over to the badly injured biker to provide additional assistance. Once EMTs arrived at the scene of the accident, Sowell was transported to a local hospital where he sadly was unable to survive the severity of his injuries and passed away. None of the other drivers were injured during the deadly incident.

Even though this fatal auto accident is still under investigation by members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, detectives currently believe that the main factors that contributed to the motorcyclist’s death were speed/traveling too fast for conditions, and passing other vehicles within a designated no-passing zone. They will also check to see if the biker was impaired at the time of the accident. No charges are expected to be filed.

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.