Fatal SUV vs Motorcycle Collision in Marion County

A deadly accident took place this past Saturday in Marion County after an SUV collided with the rear end of a motorcycle and threw the cyclist off of the bike and onto the road.  Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol issued a statement regarding the evening crash in Ocala that described how Reid, a 64-year-old Ocala resident, was driving his motorcycle in the northbound lanes of County Road 200 close to 7:30 in the evening.  Behind Reid on the road was a Chevy Blazer SUV.  The driver of the SUV has not been named, but the official statement includes their recounting of the events that took place.

According to the statement, the two vehicles were nearing Northwest 44th Street when the motorcycle began to swerve across the road.  Unable to stop in time, the SUV collided with the rear of the motorcycle as it dipped back and forth in front of the car.  The force of the collision threw Reid off of the bike and onto the roadway.  The report indicates that Reid was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, a fact which may have intensified the injuries he sustained after being tossed from his motorcycle.

Paramedics and other emergency services were called in and arrived at the scene shortly after the crash occurred, however there was little they could do.  Reid was transferred from the ground to an ambulance and then rushed to Ocala Regional Hospital.  The report indicated that Reid died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

As stated above, the driver of the SUV has not been named, and it is not believed that they suffered from any injuries as a result of the crash.  It is not known if any charges are currently pending against the SUV’s driver or even if the investigation into the fatal accident has been concluded or is ongoing while the authorities compile additional information relating to the scene.  Important questions include: was the SUV maintaining an appropriate distance behind Reid and his motorcycle?  Was there any way for the driver of the SUV to avoid the motorcycle after Reid began to lose control of the vehicle?  Any further developments will rely heavily on the answers to these lines of inquiry.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.