What started as a routine Saturday ride ended in tragedy in Pasco County when a 20-year-old Tampa man died after his Kawasaki motorcycle slammed into a turning Chevy Suburban on State Road 54 at Player Drive, authorities said. He was rushed to a local hospital with severe injuries but did not survive. Troopers said the crash remains under investigation.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, as reported by Tampa Free Press, the collision happened at about 3:10 p.m. The agency told the outlet the Kawasaki was headed west on SR 54 when a 53-year-old New Port Richey man driving the Suburban attempted a left turn, putting the SUV directly in the motorcycle's path. Authorities have not publicly released either driver's name as they continue to work the case.
Troopers' account of the impact
Troopers quoted by the paper said the Suburban "turned directly into the path of and was struck by" the motorcycle and that the rider was traveling at "a high rate of speed." The force of the impact left the motorcyclist with critical injuries that later proved fatal at the hospital. Investigators are still piecing together the exact sequence of events that led up to the crash.
Where this crash fits in the season
The wreck comes in the thick of Florida's busy summer driving stretch, often called the "100 Deadliest Days," when officials warn that fatal crashes tend to climb. As noted in May, the state saw more than 650 fatal crashes during last summer's Memorial Day to Labor Day window, and agencies are again pleading with drivers to slow down and steer clear of risky behavior.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the investigation into Saturday's crash is ongoing and more details will be released when they are available. Anyone who may have seen the collision or has information that could help is asked to contact the agency's local office so troopers can follow up.
