Haines City, FL (June 11, 2026) – Jonathan Morales Pabon, a Polk County detention deputy, was killed Tuesday night, June 9, in an off-duty crash on Interstate 4 near Haines City, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 4 near the U.S. Highway 27 overpass. PCSO said Morales Pabon was a passenger in a Nissan SUV when it was involved in a collision with an eastbound Ford pickup truck.
Emergency crews took the SUV’s driver, a 21-year-old Lake Wales woman, to a local hospital with minor injuries. The pickup driver, identified by authorities as a 38-year-old Orlando man, was not hurt.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate the crash. Our condolences go out to the victim’s loved ones.
Where the Crash Happened: I-4 near US-27
The reported location is on eastbound Interstate 4 near the U.S. Highway 27 overpass in the Haines City area. This part of the roadway is an interstate setting where vehicles are moving at highway speeds while drivers also prepare for nearby exits and lane changes.
A crash near an overpass and interchange area can require investigators to review more than the final resting places of the vehicles. Lane position, ramp proximity, traffic flow, and each vehicle’s path before impact can all be important in understanding how the collision occurred.
What We Know
- The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
- The crash was on eastbound Interstate 4 near the U.S. Highway 27 overpass.
- Jonathan Morales Pabon, 32, died in the crash.
- Morales Pabon was a Polk County detention deputy.
- PCSO said he was off duty at the time.
- Morales Pabon was a passenger in a Nissan SUV.
- The SUV was involved in a crash with an eastbound Ford pickup truck.
- The SUV’s driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
- The pickup driver was not injured.
- PCSO’s Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit is investigating.
- Officials had not confirmed whether citations or criminal charges would follow.
Why Interstate Passenger-Injury Crashes Can Be Complex
A serious interstate crash can affect people inside the same vehicle in very different ways. In this case, authorities said Morales Pabon was riding as a passenger in the SUV, while the SUV’s driver survived with minor injuries. That difference in outcome is one reason investigators examine the vehicle’s movement, the impact point, and where each person was seated.
At interstate speeds, the timing of a lane change or a collision can leave drivers with very little time to react. Investigators will need to rely on physical evidence and confirmed vehicle paths before making any final determination about how the crash unfolded.
How This Crash Is Investigated
Because this was a fatal crash, PCSO’s Traffic Homicide Investigations Unit will examine the sequence of events leading up to the collision. That review may include vehicle damage, roadway marks, witness statements, crash-scene measurements, and any available camera or vehicle data.
The source report said investigators had not confirmed whether citations or criminal charges would be issued. Until that review is complete, the crash should be treated as an active investigation rather than a settled finding of fault.
What to Do After a Fatal Crash in Florida
After a fatal crash, the official report can help families and parties involved understand what investigators documented after scene work, interviews, and evidence review.
In Florida, crash reports are handled through the FL Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) — Crash Records. The official portal is the Florida Crash Portal, and the report form is HSMV 90010 (Long/Short Form).
Florida’s listed report fee is $10.00/report + $2.00 transaction convenience fee (online). Officers have 10 days to file; online reports are available immediately once posted. Reports may be requested by parties involved, their attorneys/legal reps, licensed insurance agents (per § 316.066). Public after 60 days. Florida reports are confidential for the first 60 days (§ 316.066); public thereafter.
Jonathan Morales Pabon’s death remains under investigation, and additional details may be released after PCSO completes its review.
Local Accident Reports compiles incident information from official agencies and credible local sources. Details from initial reports may be updated as official investigations conclude. If you have direct knowledge that any information here is inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and correct the record.
