Polk man facing DUI charges in crash that killed his daughter

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A 30-year-old Lakeland father has been arrested and charged in a November traffic crash in which his daughter was killed and son seriously injured.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Kody Wills was arrested Tuesday and charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI causing serious bodily injury and two counts of negligent child abuse stemming from a Nov. 7 crash.

Officials said Wills’ blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit when he crashed his Kia sedan on Broadway Street near Lake Parker Drive at 6:30 p.m. Officials said he ran a stop sign and crossed the roadway, striking a tree.

The vehicle caught fire and Wills’ five-year old daughter died. Also, his three-year old son received serious bodily injuries in the form of burns to the face.

Authorities said Wills told them he was driving home at the time of the crash and missed a turn.

Wills stated after the crash he got out of his vehicle and attempted to get his son out, but he fell to the ground. A stranger then came and helped. When asked about the odor of alcohol, Wills admitted he had one shot of Maker’s Mark alcohol earlier in the afternoon at 1:00 pm. 

Wills was taken into custody and booked into the Polk County Jail. He will have a first appearance hearing on January 1.

“Nothing will bring this beautiful child back to her family, nor heal the injuries to her brother or the emotional devastation that Kody Wills has caused to so many people,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “We know that it has been a horrific seven weeks for this family while our detectives made sure to cross every T and dot every I throughout every step of this investigation; we are confident that we have done everything in our power to ensure Kody Wills is charged appropriately with every felony that he committed, and hopeful that justice will be served.

“Please continue to pray for this family.”