Last Updated: 8:22 p.m.
Robert Roy Robbins, a 62-year-old motorcyclist, lost control, swerved off U.S. 1 and crashed on Old Dixie Highway near the White Eagle Lounge this afternoon. He was pronounced dead minutes later.
It was the fourth road fatality in Flagler County since Dec. 7, ending the year on a grim note though Flagler had begun December with less than a third of the road fatalities it experienced in 2017. The crash near the White Eagle was one of several that took place on major roadways in Flagler today, particularly I-95, the scene of two major crashes totaling seven or eight injuries this morning, including a child.
This afternoon’s crash near the White Eagle, a notoriously deadly zone, brings the number of people killed in crashes there to eight since May 2016, including three motorcyclists.
The crash took place at 2:30 p.m. Robbins, of Holly Hill, was riding north on U.S. 1. According to a witness’ account to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper at the scene, Robbins failed to negotiate the curve immediately south of the intersection with Old Dixie Highway. He then fishtailed through dirt and brush, struck a culvert and a road sign, toppling the sign, and both he and the motorcycle went airborne.
The witness, Charles D. Lopez, was driving a van on Old Dixie, approaching U.S. 1, at the exact moment of the crash. (He had three passengers, including two children, 5 and 3.) Lopez described to FHP the motorcycle passing over the van and crashing on the pavement, Robbins striking the van, and falling to the ground by the van’s passenger side.
Robbins had previously lived in Missouri. “For those of you that knew my dad,” his son of the same name wrote on his Facebook page this afternoon, “He was involved in a Motorcycle Accident this afternoon and did not make it. Its a sad day. He just came here to retire and spend time with the family.”
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded, as did Flagler County Fire Rescue, FHP and the Palm Coast Fire Police.
The cause of the motorcyclist swerving off U.S. 1 is not known. No charges are pending. Robbins was not wearing a helmet.
The scene was cleared at 6:30 p.m.
Because of the intersection’s grim history, the Florida Department of Transportation developed a plan to reengineer the whole stretch of U.S. 1 and the intersection and build a $4.1 million roundabout there. Construction is scheduled to begin on Jan. 7. Roundabouts don’t eliminate traffic crashes, but drastically reduce the incidence of fatal and severe crashes.
Flagler Flyer says
I passed that intersection minutes before the accident. I95 was a mess and it looked like Waze was sending I95 south traffic through Seminole woods, left on the 1, and then left on Old Dixie. And i95 N traffic up the 1 from Ormond Each and right on Seminole woods. It was a complete disaster.
The left turn lane to old Dixie from 1 south was backed up almost to Seminole woods. People were losing their minds and driving very badly. It was a crazy situation with an unfortunately not surprising result.
Deborah says
I rode past this accident while they still had the gentleman on the scene. So sad to see this happen during the Holidays. Something has to be done about that intersection. SO SAD
Richard says
Speed KILLS! The roundabout would have at least slowed this motorcyclist down possibly enough to save his life maybe. Depends on how fast he was traveling. RIP brother rider!
Tommy says
A waste of 4 million dollars.
Steve Vanne says
Yap that round about would of made a hug different’s. Just think they could of already put traffic lights there maybe things like this would not happen. Looks like rider error. So sad.
Donna says
My condolences to Roby and the rest of the Robbins family.im so sorry. May he RIP
Stacy H says
Prayers to the victims family and those involved.
Fred says
Wouldn’t a traffic light at the intersection be alot cheaper and fix the problem? I mean that’s what they did at white view, royal palms, belle terre and Seminole woods….
deb says
” lost control,” , and no helmet. Again people just need to slow down, take their time and pay attention. . RIP Robert Roy Robbins,
girl says
May he RIP, prayers for him and his family.
The Truth says
How about installing flashing lights warning people of a dangerous intersection. How many more accidents and deaths can this section keep causing. The round about isn’t coming soon enough.
May he RIP and thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time.
Joe Durt says
They could have installed a full stop light setup like they have done on Seminole , Belle Terre, etc, but instead they have done nothing. Lets waste 4 million dollars on a round about that is going to get clogged up with the increased tractor trailer traffic on US1 or get someone else killed as somebody tries to go through it at 80 MPH…….. Put a traffic light up, save some money, make the intersection safe….no brainer right?
BRUCE GARRISON says
I BOUNCED/ BAR BACKED @ THE WHITE EAGLE FOR OVER 20 YEAR’S ! I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I RAN OUT TO DO CPR ON PEOPLE ON MOTORCYCLE’S & IN CARS @THAT SAME LOCATION !! ITS REALLY A NO BRAINER, THAT INTERSECTION NEED A TRAFFIC LIGHT & THAT’S MY FINAL ANSWER !! BEEN IN FIRE/ EMERGENCY SEVICES, RETIRED LOE & PUBLIC WORKS SINCE WOODSTOCK !!! PLEASE DON’T PUT IN THE “BALL OF CONFUSION aka A CIRCLE JERK 🤗 !! & THOUGHTS & PRAYERS TO THE ROBINSON FAMILY 🙏💔😢 !!!!
Richard says
All of you naysayers on whether this Round-A-Bout will save lives and reduce the number of fatal or even nonfatal accidents, I will promise you that you WILL be eating CROW. After it has been built and the DOT and or law enforcement has accumulated enough data to compare stats from BEFORE and then AFTER and they get published here thanks to Flaglerlive I will hold a CROW eating party at the White Eagle Lounge for all of the skeptics out there.
The original woody says
Why is a traffic light the the answer to every traffic accident in flagler county?For Gods sake don’t we have a enough already?Traffic signals no matter how many will fix bad driving in all situations.Please enough already.
KENNY RICHEY says
WOULDN’T A $100,000.00 TRAFFIC LIGHT BE MORE BENIFICIAL TO THE TAX PAYERS, THAN A $4.1 MILLION DOLLAR ROUND ABOUT ?