FLORIDA — An elderly woman in Winter Haven, Florida died after being found critically injured in a fenced field near Lucerne Lakeside Mobile Home Park, in a case that investigators say was a tragic accident and not foul play. Police say an autopsy later determined the woman died from blunt-force trauma with injuries consistent with being trampled by a large animal such as a horse.
911 Call Reported a Person Lying in a Field Off Lucerne Park Road
According to Winter Haven police, dispatchers received a 911 call at about 1:54 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026, reporting a person lying in a field off Lucerne Park Road.
When officers arrived, they reportedly observed a woman on the ground with two horses nearby. Officers entered the fenced field and found the woman unresponsive, with visible injuries to her face and torso, police said.
Rescue Crews Tried Life-Saving Measures Before She Was Taken to a Hospital
Police said officers began immediate life-saving measures before Winter Haven Fire Rescue and Polk County EMS arrived and took over. The woman was transported to a local hospital, but police said she was later pronounced deceased.
Autopsy Found Blunt-Force Trauma Consistent With Being Trampled
An autopsy later concluded the woman died from blunt-force trauma, and investigators said the injuries were consistent with being trampled by a large animal, such as a horse.
That finding helped investigators determine the case was not linked to a criminal assault but rather an accidental incident involving an animal.
Investigators Say the Woman Regularly Fed and Interacted With the Horses
Police said investigators spoke with residents of the nearby mobile home community and learned the woman routinely fed and interacted with the horses in the area…