William Burnett, a 15-year-old Palm Coast resident, was seriously injured late Saturday night in a collision with a pick-up truck at a Palm Coast gas station as Burnett was riding his bicycle.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Burnett was approaching the east side of the parking lot of the Shell gas station at 890 Palm Coast Parkway, formerly a Kangaroo. Burnett was traveling along the sidewalk, westbound, reached the end of the sidewalk, then entered the parking lot of the station.
Richard Bradley, a 31-year-old Palm Coast resident, was at the wheel of a 2010 Chevy Silverado, going north in the same parking lot, at about 5 to 10 mph. Burnett, according to FHP, did not see Bradley’s Silverado and rode straight into the pick-ups path.
The front of the SUV struck the left side of the bicycle, throwing Burnett to the ground. Burnett was not wearing a helmet. The Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue responded, as did the Palm Coast Fire Police. Burnett was transported by ground to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach. His injuries were listed as serious, but not life-threatening. FHP says charges are pending. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Trecherous Parking lot says
I avoid that cluster of a civil engineering palm Coast nightmare at all costs. At peak rush hour you got tons of people in a hurry trying to get into the busy strip mall pack/ship store/ laundry mat, head shop and pizza joint as well at the old Kangaroo, all forced to enter and exit far away, people swerving to avoid speed bumps, jockeying for position to get to pumps. Every business in there I have alternative options with less hassle to get in and out and only shop in there as a last resort. Strip mall has super tight parking not enough room to back out and fedex/UPS DHL delivery trucks coming and going from packrat, messed up druggies buying marijuana smoking scales and bongs and vape supplies, its super dangerous, I’ve seen so many minor accidents over the years there…
gmath55 says
Trecherous Parking lot you got that right.
Concerned Citizen says
Why are charges pending against the driver?
Accidents happen and it states the bicycle rider did not see the truck. Nor was alcohol involved
I can tell you from first hand experience I see numerous bicycle riders disobey traffic laws and violate right of way on a daily basis. They think the rules of the road do not apply to them and expect us to be able to come to a complete and sudden stop.
To All Cyclists and Pedestrians.
Florida has laws that apply to you just as they do vehicle drivers. We need more enforcement of those laws. Time and time again I see people run across the road when the signal clearly doesn’t indicate go….
We might see less accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists if they exercised a little more common sense and respect.
MarkingTheDays says
Charges against the cyclist I hope. I bet he looks both ways next time!
Joking aside, why are there charges? If there is a fender bender involving two vehicles in a parking lot no one gets charged. The police only come to write a report for insurance purposes. (At least that is my experience in two different incidents)
I’m tired of “right of way” as an excuse for pedestrians (yes, pedestrians. if this cyclist was in the sidewalk, he is a pedestrian) to just hurl themselves into harm’s way. “I might have a broken leg, but at least I was legally in the right!”
Kim says
Sounds to me more like the pick up driver didn’t see the kid. Who has the right of way? The pickup hit the bike, not the other way around.
Richard says
Every day I witness disregard for traffic laws with regards to pedestrians, bicyclists PLUS many broken with drivers of vehicles. However the ones that are the most blatant are from bicyclists who ride in the road and never stop for a STOP sign and ignore ALL of the traffic laws. Hint, when you are riding on a sidewalk you are to abide by pedestrians laws. When riding on the road you abide by vehicle traffic laws. Get smart and save a life or act dumb and get killed. It’s up to you.
Born and Raised Here says
I hope he was wearing a bike helmet. Florida State law requires anyone 16 years and under, must wear a properly fitted bike helmet.
Richard says
@ Born & Raised Here – When was the last time you have seen a bicyclist obeying the law in Palm Coast or Flagler Beach?
Born and Raised Here says
@ Richard – not required for anyone 16 years olds or older to wear a bike helmet. Read your Florida Statue next time before you comment.
Vinny says
Spandex people are the worse !
batman says
Living in palm coast has made me much more of a defensive driver half of the people on the road around here drive like they are blind