WOKC Local News – February 26, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. An update on deputy with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. The Florida Highway Patrol released some details on that tragic accident on 441 at Wolf Road Monday night that left a deputy injured and in the hospital. The report from FHP says the 2014 Black Cadillac driven by a 16-year-old girl from Okeechobee was headed northbound on 441 approaching the intersection. The deputy, Austin Rhodes, was in uniform and wearing his reflective traffic vest. He was positioned within the intersection directing traffic. The traffic signal had malfunctioned. The driver failed to observe the deputy in the road and did not slow or stop in time to avoid a collision. Right front portion of the vehicle struck the deputy. The deputy was thrown into the air and landed in the outside lane of Parrott Avenue. He was transported to HCA Florida Longwood Hospital with severe head trauma. He remains in stable condition. St. Lucie County Fire District crews responded to a large commercial truck fire in western St. Lucie County. It happens in the 28,000 block of Okeechobee Road. Upon arrival, firefighters say they found a fully involved food truck on the side of the road. Crews quickly extinguished the fire and one patient was evaluated unseen. The truck was a total loss. The former Mid-Florida Hardware and Dollar General building at 3601 Highway 441 South is now the subject of a lawsuit. It has fallen into disrepair in recent years. Stonegate Contracting Group says they were contracted with in July to build the Lake Crossing Daycare Center there. They are suing the owner of the property, Lake Crossing, claiming breach of contract. The company claimed they have not been paid some $682,000. The daycare renovation was expected to cost $2.16 million. They are asking the court to order the property be sold to satisfy the lien. Indiantown Village Council agreed to pursue the purchase of just over an acre at 16870 Southwest Charleston Street from Martin County. The asking price was $284,000. The appraisal was $275,000. The village will offer the appraisal amount. It was originally part of the Indiantown CRA and was set aside for affordable housing. The village council was urged to create a dog park on a section of Big Mound Park near the baseball field. Anthony Sreiner says his proposal would help animal lovers in the village. I have been advocating for maybe eight, nine years now for a dog park here in the Indiantown community and it’s time. He says it wouldn’t take a lot of expense as a lot of the parking and restroom facilities are available already. A street takeover event in Miami led to an arrest in Sebring last night. One of the speedsters sped off at high speeds after ramming a patrol car in Miami. 25-year-old Lucio Marin Anselmo lives in Sebring. Charges include aggravated battery on law enforcement with a deadly weapon. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).