Honk News – A 31-year-old father in Florida has been taken into custody following an incident where he reportedly drove under the influence, resulting in a crash that claimed the life of his 5-year-old daughter and left his 3-year-old son with serious injuries.
Kody Wills was arrested on Tuesday and faces charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI causing serious bodily injury, along with two counts of negligent child abuse, according to officials.
A press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office revealed that a toxicology test indicated Wills had a blood alcohol content of 0.25 after the accident, exceeding the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle in the state by more than three times.
Officials reported that around 6:26 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, Wills was driving on Broadway Street close to Lake Parker Drive when he failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a tree.
“As a result of the crash, the vehicle caught on fire and Kody Jo Wills’ five-year old daughter died,” a probable cause affidavit states. “Additionally, his three-year old son received serious bodily injuries in the form of burns to the face.”
Authorities reported that an investigation found “no clear signs of braking” prior to Wills colliding with the tree.
A deputy visited Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center around 8:30 p.m. to talk to Wills regarding the crash. The deputy observed several indications of intoxication, including the smell of alcohol on Wills’ breath and watery eyes.
“Post-Miranda, Wills admitted he was driving his vehicle at the time of the crash and that the only passengers in the vehicle were his juvenile children which he had just picked up from their grandfather’s residence,” the affidavit states. “Wills stated he was driving home at the time of the crash and missed a turn. Wills stated after the crash he got out of his vehicle and attempted to get his son out, but he fell to the ground. A stranger then came and helped. When asked about the odor of alcohol, Wills admitted he had one shot of Maker’s Mark alcohol earlier in the afternoon at approximately 1:00 pm.”
The Sheriff’s Office reported that a search warrant led to a legal blood draw, revealing that Wills was over three times the legal limit. At the time of his hospital admission for a broken ankle, broken hip, and fractured ribs, he was also noted to be under the influence of alcohol.
Medical professionals informed officials that the burns endured by Wills’ young son will result in lasting scars.
“Nothing will bring this beautiful child back to her family, nor heal the injuries to her brother or the emotional devastation that Kody Wills has caused to so many people,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement following the arrest. “We know that it has been a horrific seven weeks for this family while our detectives made sure to cross every T and dot every I throughout every step of this investigation; we are confident that we have done everything in our power to ensure Kody Wills is charged appropriately with every felony that he committed, and hopeful that justice will be served. Please continue to pray for this family.”
Wills is in custody at the Polk County Jail and is set to appear in court for the first time on January 1, 2025.