Woman grazed by bullet while driving on I-4 in Polk County | FOX 35 Orlando
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Woman grazed by bullet while driving on I-4 in Polk County

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Updated  February 21, 2025 12:17am EST
Polk County
FOX 35 Orlando

Woman grazed by bullet while driving on I-4

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in an investigation after a woman was shot while driving westbound on Interstate 4 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Brief

    • A woman driving a white 2002 Toyota Tacoma with the Orkin logo was grazed by a projectile while traveling westbound on I-4 near State Road 559 on Feb. 19.
    • Investigators believe the shot came from another vehicle traveling eastbound on I-4, not from someone on the ground.
    • Authorities are seeking public assistance and urge witnesses to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or Heartland Crime Stoppers.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in an investigation after a woman was shot while driving westbound on Interstate 4 on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Makes me so mad I could chew the bark off of trees’

What we know:

A woman was shot while driving westbound on Interstate 4 near State Road 559 between Polk City and Auburndale on the afternoon of Feb. 19. Authorities received a 911 call from the victim at 3:47 p.m. She reported that a projectile entered through the driver’s side window of her Toyota Tacoma truck, grazing her. The truck had the Orkin logo.

Polk County Fire Rescue transported the woman to a local hospital, where she was treated and released. Investigators believe the shot was fired from another vehicle traveling eastbound on I-4 at the same time. There is no indication that the gunfire came from someone on the ground near the highway.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or a motive. It is unclear if the shooting was intentional, a road rage incident, or a stray bullet. Investigators are still gathering evidence and are asking for public assistance from anyone who may have witnessed the event.

The backstory:

Interstate 4 is a notoriously congested highway, particularly in the area where the shooting occurred. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described the traffic conditions as "bumper to bumper at 80 or 85 miles an hour."

Road rage incidents have been an increasing concern in Florida and across the country, with law enforcement agencies warning drivers to avoid engaging with aggressive motorists. While it remains unclear if this incident was road rage-related, Sheriff Judd emphasized the dangers of escalating confrontations on the road.

What they're saying:

Sheriff Grady Judd expressed strong frustration over the shooting, calling it reckless and dangerous. 

"It makes me so mad I could chew the bark off of trees. That's just stupid and inconsiderate," said Sheriff Judd. "You can't do that in drive-time traffic. In fact, you can't do that any time, but in drive-time traffic, you're going to hit someone."

He also urged drivers to avoid escalating road rage incidents. 

"Don't engage someone because road rage incidents don't get better with time. They get uglier with time."

Big picture view:

The incident underscores growing concerns about highway violence and reckless driving behavior. As Florida experiences increased traffic congestion, particularly in high-speed corridors like I-4, law enforcement is urging drivers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who was traveling on I-4 at the time and saw anything unusual to come forward with information. Witnesses can contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office or Heartland Crime Stoppers.

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The Source: The information in this article comes from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. 

Polk CountyCrime and Public Safety