A 22-year-old Lakeland man has been charged with vehicular homicide for his role in a July road rage encounter that killed a man who was impaled by a vinyl fence.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 22-year-old Brondon Manning of Lakeland on Wednesday.
The crash happened on July 6 in Highlands City. Detectives say 27-year-old Daniel Bagwell of Bartow died at the scene after he was impaled by a piece of vinyl fence.
Investigators say the men had aggressive interactions with each other as they were driving south on US Hwy 98 South in Highlands City at about 10:45 a.m.
The two vehicles, an Acura and a Dodge Ram, made contact at the intersection of US Hwy 98 South and Cypress Avenue. The two drivers became involved in a race at speeds over 90 mph when Manning lost control of his car and hit Bagwell’s truck.
“We just seen the black car on the inside, the truck driving on the outside. The truck cut them off and they both crashed into the house,” witness Shawn Rivera told WFLA on the day of the crash.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Bagwell drove through a plastic fence and was impaled in the chest. He was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Manning, who suffered only minor abrasions, described a road-rage scenario to deputies immediately following the crash.
“Through investigative work, collection and analysis of evidence, interviews with witnesses, and forensic math, it became obvious that both drivers in this case were willing participants in high speed street racing. This is a terrible reminder that street racing is dangerous and can sometimes result in death,” said Sheriff Judd.
Manning was charged with Vehicular Homicide (F-2) and Participating in an Unlawful Race (M-1). He has no prior criminal history before the crash, but was charged with Possession of Cocaine and Drug Paraphernalia on July 22, 2018 in Highlands County.
