Nick Nelson, 28, had finished his shift at Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing in the Hammock at about 9:45 Saturday night. What happened between then and 3 a.m. is not known.
But at 3 a.m., he was riding his motorcycle–a 2011 Suzuki 750–north on State Road A1A, “at a high rate of speed,” according to the Florida Highway Patrol sergeant who investigated the crash. Four-tenth of a miles south of the gated entrance to Island Estates, Nelson approached an S-curve in the road–and failed to negotiate it.
Nelson went off the road, appears to have tried to curve back onto A1A, but instead rolled the motorcycle, sending it against a metal fence and a thick stone fence-post that “cut the motorcycle right in half.” The two halves of the motorcycle were catapulted in opposite directions, the investigator said. Nelson was killed at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol report on the crash notes that he wasn’t wearing a helmet, but that may not have been the case: the victim’s mother told the investigator he always wore a helmet. The helmet may not have been fastened properly, the investigator said.
Flagler County Fire Rescue was at the scene. Roger’s Towing cleared the wreckage.
Nelson was particularly fond of motorcycle, featuring his Suzuki as his cover photo top his Facebook page again and again. His latest showed the black Suzuki parked by the dunes in Flagler Beach, with the ocean and A1A in the background.
“It is with heavy hearts that we post this,” Captain’s BBQ’s Facebook page posted in early afternoon. “Our Captains BBQ family and the Nelson family has suffered a great lost today. Our beloved team member Nick Nelson was taken too soon in a tragic accident. Our thoughts and prays go out to his family in this trying time. He will be missed.”
Oh WOW says
How sad. Prayers for the Family.
Joe Natch says
Rest in Heaven #gsxrlife
matthew morris says
He will be missed. Everytime i saw him he had a helmet on. R.i.p. my good buddy…
J says
My wife and I came upon a field of debris as we headed home from St Augustine that night. We decide to turn around to make sure everything was ok and that’s when we found more debris on the side of the road and then we found this young man. I had my wife call 911 as I called out to him to see if he would respond but he didn’t. It was traumatic to say the least. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family. We did find a motorcycle helmet in the road so to us we believe he was wearing one and that it came of during the crash. Once again our hearts go out to his family.
Anita Moeder says
Horrendous accident. Prayers being sent to his family and friends.
Bc says
Rest in peace nick
jim says
God Bless and Godspeed
Dazed and Confused. says
RIP friend.
Old Lady says
So sad, loss of a beautiful young life
A says
Nick God bless you. May u be in the lords arms ! Gone way too soon. U are loved
DaveT says
Sad a loss of a good person. R.I.P. Buddy. Maybe this tragic death will inform people that speed kills. Slow down, your life is more important than getting to your destination a few seconds or minutes earlier.
Flaglergal says
Such a shame, may he RIP and may his family find peace.
Anne says
This is a terrible tragedy my heart goes out to Nick’s family and friends I am praying for all of u.
Wendy Ayers says
“J” … This is Nicks mom Wendy.
I don’t know how to reach you but if possible please reach out to me through Nick’s Facebook. I would like to meet you and express my gratitude for what you did.
God Bless you and your wife.
J says
We sent you a message using our daughters Facebook account as we don’t have one. We included an email address you can use to contact us. Please let us know if you receive the message if not contact us again here and we’ll figure something else out.
Lisa S.