It was late afternoon when a 76-year old motorcyclist and his wife went out for a ride on a lovely Melbourne Beach afternoon. They were snow birds, enjoying the lovely Florida weather instead of the harsh winter of Hempfield, Pennsylvania. Back home this gentleman founded a well-known Harley-Davidson dealership that he was planning to return to in only a few days for a Christmas party. Unfortunately, this motorcycle rider didn’t make it home from the sunny ride with his wife.
Motorcycling Community Mourns
While riding up Route A1A, the 79-year-old got stuck behind a 2009 Chevy Impala. After travelling some distance he decided to pass the vehicle to the left, but he didn’t know the car driver was planning to take a left-hand turn. When the Impala turned, the 2015 Harley-Davidson collided with it and ejected the motorcyclist and his passenger.
Police pronounced the 79-year-old dealership owner dead on the scene, but his wife was flown to Holmes Regional Medical Center and was described as being in stable condition. This dealer was known for creating a family at his dealership in Pennsylvania, for helping the motorcycling community, and for fundraising for local children’s charities. However, he is not alone when it comes to motorcycling fatalities in Florida.
How Often Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen In Florida?
Motorcyclist fatalities make up 19.2 percent of all traffic fatalities in our state, and only 3.1 percent of all Florida motor vehicles are motorcycles. This means that car drivers need to pay extra attention while sharing the roads with motorcyclists to prevent wrongful deaths.
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