Victoria Johnson faces charges after allegedly striking two boys crossing the road near Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida, killing an 8-year-old and injuring a 10-year-old. The incident occurred on March 11, 2026, during a church function. She reportedly tried to dispose of her vehicle afterward.
On March 11, 2026, shortly before 8:30 p.m., two boys aged 8 and 10 were crossing Crystal Beach Road near Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida, after a Wednesday evening church program. They waited for a truck to pass before entering the road, where a northbound SUV struck them. The 8-year-old died at the scene, while the 10-year-old sustained a broken arm, broken femur, and compound skull fracture. He was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office reports. Authorities have not released the victims' names out of respect for the families. Faith Baptist Church posted on Facebook: 'Our church family is grieving following a tragic hit-and-run accident... One child was fatally injured, and another remains in critical condition. Our hearts are broken for these families.' The church is cooperating with investigators and requested privacy for those affected. The following day, 30-year-old Victoria Johnson called deputies to report her 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe stolen, claiming she had lent it to a friend. She later admitted to driving it that night near the church, saying she thought she may have hit someone but did not remember. Johnson, who lost her license from a prior DUI, stated she had been driving for 20 minutes or more and was a regular methamphetamine user, including that night. When asked about the vehicle's location, she replied, 'Probably at the bottom of a lake by now.' Deputies later located the damaged SUV, which showed signs consistent with a pedestrian strike, including missing parts and possible biological matter. A man driving it was arrested for resisting arrest without violence. Johnson faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash with death and serious bodily injury, tampering with evidence, and driving without a license causing death. Her next court date is April 14.