A 19-year-old Bartow man lost his life in the early morning hours of May 31, 2026, after his all-terrain vehicle flipped during a nighttime ride with friends at River Ranch Hunt Club near Lake Wales.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of Layne Michael Smith, whose passing has shaken his community and left family and friends searching for ways to come together in his honor.
Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue crews were called to the scene at 18550 County Road 630 at around 2:34 a.m. Because the crash happened several miles off the main road, PCSO’s Agriculture Unit had to transport first-responders deep into the property to reach Smith…