Winter Haven police searching for driver involved in fiery crash

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Winter Haven police are searching for the person who was behind the wheel of a car that crashed into a pole and caught fire on Sunday.

Officers were called to the intersection of Highway-17 at Avenue M Northwest in front of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church just after midnight to find a car engulfed in flames.

No one was inside or around the vehicle following the crash. A bystander found the car and called 911, but did not see the crash happen.

“It appears the blue Hyundai Sonata was traveling north and slammed into the traffic light pole, which caused the car to burst into flames. The lights at the intersection were out for roughly four hours until the pole could be repaired,” a post on the Winter Haven Public Safety Department Facebook page said.

Authorities have tried to find the car’s registered owner, but to no avail. Anyone who saw the crash or the driver involved is asked to contact the Winter Haven Police Department at (863) 401-2256.

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