A rash of wrecks and unlicensed drivers
Within a 10-day period, between Dec. 21 and Dec. 31, at least three wrecks, one with serious injuries, occurred in Bartow, according to reports from the Bartow Police Department.
On Dec. 21, around 7:20 p.m., police were dispatched to U.S. 17 and Main Street, where they found the two passengers in a red 2004 Saturn seriously injured. The driver, Maximino Ramos, admitted to police that he had drank a few beers, and he also was cited for not having a license to drive and never having been issued one, police report.