Two girls, ages 9 and 12, were killed when the minibike they were riding crashed into a pickup truck in Polk County on Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The crash happened in the area of Connersville Road and Wellington Place at about 4:15 p.m.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said 12-year-old Charisma Vega and her sister, 9-year-old Kiara were riding a minibike on Wellington Place and crossed Connersville where they were struck by a black 2019 Chevy Z71. Judd said the driver of the truck did not see the girls before she hit them and immediately stopped after hearing a noise.
Paramedics arrived and began life-saving efforts. The girls were rushed to Lakeland Regional Health Hospital, where they later died.
“We do not see any clear and convincing evidence of any wrongdoing on behalf of the driver of the Chevrolet,” Judd said, adding that the driver was traveling under the speed limit.
“These two little girls were just out on a Sunday afternoon, having fun, but riding a minibike that is not certified for the road,” Judd said. “This is the kind of toy that should have been operated in an open field, on a dirt field and not on a highway.”
Investigators say the girls were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
