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Raymond Hart

Age : 80

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 03/23/2021

Location : US-27 and Chalet Suzanne Road

City : Lake Wales

County : Polk

State : Florida

Agency : Lake Wales Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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REASON FOR CHASE: Bystander killed during 98-mph speeding pursuit
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NARRATIVE:
On 03/23/2021 at approximately 10:25 a.m., Raymond Hart, 80, of Lake Wales was driving a Chevrolet Silverado near U.S. Highway 27 and Chalet Suzanne Road when Lake Wales Police Officer Sean Robertson clocked a Chevrolet Equinox traveling north on U.S. 27 at 98 mph in a 60-mph zone south of Eagle Ridge Mall. Robertson activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to stop the Equinox. The driver continued away at high speed.
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As Robertson followed, the Equinox approached the intersection of U.S. 27 and Chalet Suzanne Road, weaving through northbound traffic. Other motorists separated to yield to Robertson's police vehicle, and the Equinox crossed two northbound lanes into a right-turn lane before entering the intersection against a red light at high speed.
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Hart entered the intersection in his Silverado with a green light. The Equinox struck Hart's truck, killing him at the scene. The 30-year-old driver of the Equinox, Courtney Wright of Winter Haven, survived with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
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DISPOSITION:
The Polk County Sheriff's Office charged Wright with vehicular homicide and felony driving with a suspended driver's license. Lake Wales Police additionally charged him with fleeing a law-enforcement officer. The sheriff's investigation determined that Wright's license had previously been revoked as a habitual traffic offender.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Sean Robertson was the Lake Wales police officer who initiated the attempted traffic stop after measuring the Equinox at 98 mph. The available reporting reviewed for this update does not document pertinent prior shootings, pursuits, discipline, lawsuits or criminal cases involving Robertson.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/03/24/habitual-traffic-offender-charged-in-polk-county-crash-that-killed-80-year-old-man/
https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/polk-county-news/2021/03/24/pcso-deputies-charge-habitual-traffic-offender-with-vehicular-homicide
https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/1-killed-1-arrested-u-s-27-crash-lake-wales-sheriff