Florida

Series of deadly motorcycle crashes in Northeast Florida prompts safety concerns

By Matthew A. Garcia 3 weeks ago

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From March 23 to April 15, at least five people have been killed in motorcycle crashes, two were seriously injured in crashes, and one motorist was said to be critically injured in another crash.

Two people are in the hospital after they crashed on the motorcycle in San Marco, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said they were riding north along the ramp of the Acosta Bridge when they didn’t make the curve, hit a wall and fell over the side. They are expected to survive, but it’s the latest in a series of serious of recent motorcycle crashes.

On Wednesday around 6 a.m., a 59-year-old man died after a car hit the man on his motorcycle. It happened on I-95 north just before the Fuller Warren Bridge. The 20-year-old driver was not hurt.

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Last Thursday morning, a Putnam County Corrections Captain died in

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Florida officer killed in motorcycle crash laid to rest

By Matthew A. Garcia 4 weeks ago

Corrections Captain Mark Elam, an 18-year employee with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, was killed in a crash Thursday while riding his motorcycle to work.

SAN MATEO, Fla. — (Note: The video above was first published April 8.)

A Putnam County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer who died in a motorcycle crash last week has been laid to rest.

Corrections Captain Mark Elam, an 18-year employee with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, was riding his motorcycle to work on Thursday when he collided with a van in the San Mateo area, the sheriff’s office said.

A celebration of Elam’s life took place Monday at 4 p.m. at Conventry Oaks Farm in Palatka. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, the USMC and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office rendered military honors.

A motorcade procession escorted Elam to the funeral, including officers from Palatka Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s

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Baby critically injured in motorcycle crash while riding on Florida man’s lap, police say

By Matthew A. Garcia 4 weeks ago

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A Florida man who was driving a motorcycle with his young stepdaughter in his lap is facing several charges after she was seriously injured when he ran a stop sign and laid down his bike to avoid hitting a car, police said.

The 17-month-old girl was propelled underneath the car that Dontrell Stanley, 35, nearly hit on Thursday, Clearwater police said in a tweet. He was arrested early Friday on charges of child neglect and operating a motorcycle without a license.

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The baby was taken to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg where she was in critical but stable condition, police said.

Stanley was also taken to a hospital for treatment.

He was booked into jail early Friday. Jail records don’t indicate whether he has

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Florida driver charged in death of motorcyclist in 130 mph race, detectives say

By Matthew A. Garcia 1 month ago

By Wayne K. Roustan South Florida Sun Sentinel (TNS)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Dodge Charger Hellcat and a Honda motorcycle were going about 130 mph on a 45 mph road before the motorcyclist lost control, crashed and later died in the hospital, the Broward Sheriff’s said. Now, the driver of the Dodge is facing charges that include vehicular homicide and child abuse.

Steven Gabriel Seneca, 35, of Coral Springs, had his 5-year-old daughter in the car when following Liam Lexis Reyes, 28, of Coconut Creek. The deadly crash happened about noon Jan. 30 on Southwest 10th Street, approaching Florida’s Turnpike in Deerfield Beach, according to the arrest report.

The preliminary investigation found that Reyes’ 2006 Honda CBR600 was speeding westbound, but as the road curved he drove onto the grass, was ejected, and came to rest against a fence.

Detectives collected evidence that showed the Dodge was directly behind

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