Lakeland Woman Arrested After Fleeing Scene of Deadly Crash

LAKELAND, Fla. — A 24-year-old woman is facing serious charges after the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says she fled the scene of a fatal crash in Lakeland that left a pedestrian dead.

What Happened

On August 18, deputies responded to a disturbing scene on W. Highland Street, where a woman was found lying in the roadway next to broken car parts. No vehicle was present when law enforcement arrived.

The victim, 27-year-old Danielle Stilwell, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation and Arrest

Detectives determined that the car parts found at the scene belonged to a 2019–2022 Kia Forte. After narrowing down the list of potential vehicles, deputies located a black Kia Forte with damage matching the debris left behind — including a missing driver-side bumper and front-left fender liner.

The vehicle was traced back to Aliya Cruz, who authorities confirmed was the owner and sole driver of the car.

According to the sheriff’s office, Cruz told investigators that she encountered an oncoming truck with bright headlights, which impaired her vision. She claimed she saw a woman in the roadway with her hands over her face and swerved to the right, believing she may have avoided her. Cruz then continued driving, made a U-turn, and headed back toward the area — ultimately deciding to continue to work so she wouldn't be late.

Later, Cruz reportedly told a supervisor at her workplace that she may have “possibly killed someone” and showed photos of the damage to her vehicle. The supervisor advised her to contact authorities. During the investigation, Cruz made conflicting statements, including:

“I don’t really want to say anything.”
“I know I didn’t hit them.”
“I don’t think I hit the person.”
“I know I swerved.”

Charges Filed

Cruz was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a felony offense in Florida.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has not indicated whether additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

What’s Next

Cruz remains in custody, and the case is ongoing. Authorities have not released further details about whether speed, impairment, or distraction were factors in the crash.

Lakeland Woman Arrested After Fleeing Scene of Deadly Crash

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