Victoria Johnson, 30, Arrested After Meth-Fueled Hit-and-Run Kills 8-Year-Old Boy in Winter Haven, Florida

A Winter Haven, Florida woman, Victoria Johnson, has been arrested in connection with a tragic hit-and-run incident that killed an 8-year-old boy and critically injured his 10-year-old friend. Investigators say Johnson was driving under the influence of methamphetamine and had a suspended driver’s license following a prior DUI arrest.

The Tragic Incident

The deadly crash occurred on the evening of Wednesday, March 12, 2026, just before 8:30 p.m., outside Faith Baptist Church on Crystal Beach Road in Winter Haven. The two young boys were attending a church function when they briefly crossed the street.

As the children tried to cross back to the church, authorities say Johnson's truck struck both boys without stopping. The 8-year-old boy was killed instantly, while the 10-year-old was left with serious injuries, including a broken arm, a broken femur, and a compound skull fracture. He was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital and remains in critical but stable condition.

Hit-and-Run and False Report

After the incident, Johnson fled the scene and attempted to cover her tracks. She called the Polk County Sheriff's Office the following day to report her 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe as stolen. However, when deputies arrived at her home, they found she was gone.

Authorities quickly pieced together the truth using surveillance footage and debris from the crash. They narrowed their search to a dark SUV matching the description of Johnson’s vehicle.

Arrest and Confession

Johnson’s conflicting stories to investigators further fueled suspicions. She first claimed her car was stolen, then said she had loaned it to someone who didn’t return it, and finally claimed she had given it to a man named Corey Stewart to “get rid of it.”

While Johnson was being questioned, deputies spotted her damaged Hyundai on SR 60 in Lake Wales. Johnson’s associates, Corey Stewart and Mya Bass, attempted to flee in the vehicle but were quickly apprehended after a brief pursuit. Both were charged with resisting arrest.

During questioning, Johnson admitted to being a regular methamphetamine user and confirmed she had used methamphetamine before driving on the night of the crash.

Charges Against Victoria Johnson

Victoria Johnson was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges:

• Leaving the scene of a crash with death

• Leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury

• Tampering with evidence

• Driving without a license, causing death

• Giving false information to law enforcement

Johnson's arrest brings some measure of accountability, but the tragedy has left the community grieving the loss of a young life and praying for the recovery of the injured boy.