A late-night ride on State Road A1A ended in tragedy Thursday when a 21-year-old Fernandina Beach motorcyclist died after colliding with an SUV, according to News4JAX. The Florida Highway Patrol responded around 9:30 p.m. to the intersection of South Fletcher Avenue and Askins Avenue, where troopers pronounced the rider dead at the scene.
Investigators said the motorcycle slammed into an unoccupied sport utility vehicle that was stopped perpendicular in the northbound lane while its driver had stepped out to unhitch a trailer. The front of the motorcycle hit the left side of the SUV. The rider, who was wearing a helmet, died at the scene, while the SUV driver was not injured, News4JAX reported.
Helmet Protection
The crash report noted that the rider had been wearing a helmet at the time. Federal health officials say that choice typically matters a lot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that helmets cut the risk of death for motorcycle riders by about 37% and reduce the risk of head injury by roughly 69%, according to the CDC.
Investigation Ongoing
Florida Highway Patrol troopers are still working to determine what factors contributed to the wreck. No charges or citations were listed in the initial account of the crash, according to News4JAX.
The rider’s name has not been released, and officials have not provided additional information about the circumstances of the crash. Hoodline will update this story when FHP or local authorities release the formal crash report or more details.
