Motorists were forced to turn around along West State Road 40 on April 4 after a motorcycle rider died in a two-vehicle crash on the two-lane roadway.
Here’s what we know:
Which law enforcement agency is investigating the incident? Florida Highway Patrol.
What time was the crash? According to James Lucas, spokesman for Marion County Fire Rescue, crews were assigned to the call at 7:45 p.m. and arrived at 7:49 p.m. The victim was pronounced deceased at 7:50 p.m.
Where was the crash? SR 40 near Southwest 185th Avenue Road. Deputies and road crew officials blocked the westbound lane of SR 40 by the entrance/exit of Juliette Falls Golf and Country Club at Southwest 179th Avenue Road. Traffic heading east on the road had to detour roughly a few hundred yards from the crash site.
What happened? FHP officials said an older model Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck was westbound on SR 40. A Kawasaki motorcycle was behind the truck on the same roadway, speeding.
The motorcycle rider attempted to pass the truck when the bike clipped the back of the vehicle. The bike veered left, ejecting the rider onto the left grassy shoulder.
The bike continued, flipped several times, and eventually stopped approximately 75 to 100 feet away from the rider in the roadway, FHP said.
The investigation is ongoing.
The truck’s driver, a 17-year-old male from Ocala, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The deceased motorcycle rider was a 34-year-old man from Dunnellon, officials said.
Troopers said the teen was running an errand when the crash occurred. Law enforcement officials said the rider was on his way home.
In the past several weeks, three motorcyclists have died in traffic crashes. The crashes occurred in separate areas of the county. In one crash, a driver of another vehicle, Melinda Yvonne Dillon, was arrested on a charge of DUI manslaughter.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Motorcycle rider dies in crash on State Road 40 West
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
