A motorcyclist was killed and another critically injured Wednesday on State Road A1A in Flagler Beach when a Chevy rear-ended both motorcyclists, sending them crashing against a propane truck that was in front of them.
The crash was reported to the 911 dispatch center at 12:13 p.m. near South 26th Street.
“Before our units arrived there were reports that a nurse was on scene, she was attempting to provide care,” Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox said. “Unfortunately we had one motorcycle rider deceased, another was in critical condition and was airlifted to the nearest trauma center.” The victim was flown by Flagler County FireFlight to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach.
The circumstances of the crash, which is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol, are not known. None of the people in the Chevy or the propane truck were injured.
State Road A1A was shut down in both directions around the scene of the crash and diverted to South Central Avenue. That led to secondary incidents.
“When they diverted traffic, a semi truck ended up striking a fire hydrant, and we had a major water main burst there,” the fire chief said. “Then our engine company went to help mitigate that issue and that’s when our engine company was struck by another vehicle. The driver wasn’t paying attention and ended up striking the driver’s side running board. Luckily it looks like it went underneath it so we received very little damage. The truck is back in service today.” The truck was Engine 11.
“I know drivers can be in a rush during these times but it’s imperative to operate with caution around emergency units,” Cox said.
Florida’s Move Over law, which requires drivers to move over at least one lane on highways, applies in cities as well. When unable to move over a lane, drivers are required to slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit. In Flagler Beach, where the posted limit across town is 25 mph, drivers are required to slow down to 5 mph around emergency vehicles.
Wednesday’s crash was the first recorded fatality on Flagler County roads this year, and the first recorded motorcycle fatality in the state. Flagler County ended 2025 with 18 road fatalities, seven of them motorcyclists, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
S. Peters says
Are people driving blindfolded now? Wake up, get off your phone and pay attention, please.
TR says
I’ve seen plenty of people driving on A1A in either direction and they look at the ocean as if they never saw water before. You want to see the ocean park your car on a side street and walk to the beach and look all day. Pay attention especially now that the lanes are narrower since the center drainage was installed.
Bo Peep says
Yeah and with people yelling and horn blowing and speeding around because they had to stop on their way somewhere important to them. Settle down, pay attention and quit riding my behind because I’m not going over 80 while I’m passing everyone to the right of me.
Butch Naylor says
In Flagler Beach, the speed limit varies: it’s 20 mph on most City streets as of late 2024, but State Roads like A1A and SR 100, plus County Roads (John Anderson Hwy, Roberts Rd), generally remain at 25 mph or higher, with A1A changing from 55 to 25 mph as you go through town, so always watch for posted signs.
Par stote says
This is a horrible story Every time I read a story like this I always say to myself for that one little second you weren’t paying attention you were on the phone whatever how many lives did you just room families ruined it’s it worth it can’t we all pay more attention. This should’ve never happened. This is horrible too. Butch nailer are you from the Albany New York area?
Skibum says
On the larger, in-town portion of A1A going through Flagler Beach, the speed limit goes down to 25 mph, but on the side residential streets the speed limit was lowered to 20 some time ago. Traffic cannot reasonable be expected to slow down another 20 mph below that 20 mph speed limit on the street where the car hit the fire rig or all traffic would be completely stopped, zero mph. Drivers are not paying attention as they should on our roadways around here. Many idiot drivers are either distracted or just plain negligent, which puts other motorist, pedestrians, and both motorcycle and bicycle riders at risk of injury. Not to mention all of the emergency responders who have to be out in the traffic lanes trying to help injured accident victims.
From what I see nearly every day out on our roads, it is apparent to me that stepped up traffic enforcement in our are needs to be a priority by FHP, the sheriff’s office and both local police departments in Flagler County!
Kim says
Skibum, thanks for your comments. There is no visible traffic law enforcement on A1A in the south part of town. I’ve written on FlaglerLive several times to highlight how dangerous it is down here. At the exact spot where the speed limit changes from 25 (used to be 35) to 45 is where the zoning also goes from tourist/commercial to residential. Now, the best I can find, Florida law dictates residential speed limits to be 30 mph. Yep, I know A1A is a state road – I’ve talked to them, too. Beverly Beach somehow managed to get their speed limit lowered, and on the southern county line and beyond the speed limit is still 35 mph even though there’s been no roadwork there for months. We need it lowered from S 25th St to the county line in order for it to be safe for RESIDENTS.
TR says
Would have been nice to know the name of the person who didn’t make it. I know a lot of people in the county that ride motorcycles and was wondering if it’s anyone I know. I guess it might not be, being I haven’t gotten a phone call yet from someone telling me so and so got killed on A1A.
FlaglerLive says
We would have liked to report the name. FHP refuses to release names.
Hammock Bear says
The reason is that next of kin have to be notified first before releasing names to the public.
FlaglerLive says
No, FHP withholds names even after NOK is done, and releases them only weeks later if a laborious request for a crash report is filed.
Hammock Bear says
Thanks for the information. Wonder what their reason is to keep the victims names from the public?
FlaglerLive says
They didn’t used to, but they misapply the legislature’s misguided codification of Marsy’s law that voters approved in 2008. The law is intended to protect the identity of certain victims of crime, and only of crime in certain circumstances. FHP, clearly, does not understand the meaning of the word or the law, despite the Supreme Court clarifying it in 2023, but it’s not alone among law enforcement agencies that interpret laws to their convenience, or to exercise powers they do not have, which is to say abuse them. (It’s probably a matter of time before local police start putting on the ICE-mask affectation.)
I wish I could be a stay at home driver says
My god this is terrible, two drivers not paying attention, with one paying the highest price of death, unfortunately. What, a month ago, two deputies were mowed down conducting a traffic stop as someone had a serious Wawa fix. I’d say you’re safer on the sidewalk – but honestly given the talent of our local drivers – not really. I feel horrible for the one who paid the highest price though and I hope vehicular manslaughter with life time sentence is in order. Ping those cell phone towers for activity, and lock that sorry ass up in the same cell as the guy who keeps diddling the little kids FL just wrote about.
TR says
Just a small correction. It wasn’t the people on the motorcycles that weren’t paying attention. It was the jack ass in the pick up truck behind them that wasn’t. Had he been paying attention this wouldn’t even be a story, because no one would have gotten killed or injured. I agree with the punishment you suggested and would add, NO PLEA DEALS.
Stay at home driver says
No I understand that but two police motorcycles were mowed down on the parkway about two weeks ago. I was referring to that, the person was pulling into Wawa and in doing so plowed through two police bikes conducting a traffic stop. I’m telling ya, be careful on the sidewalks here!
Atwp says
When driving please pat attention to your surroundings and stay razor focused on your driving. The year just started, sad to say but there will be more traffic accidents and deaths.
Deborah Coffey says
Make tailgating a $1500 fine with mandatory driving school. Get more points on your license, lose it for 5 years. Tailgaters are killing people.
Jay Tomm says
Bad drivers…simple as that! This morning I saw something I never saw in Flagler before…..
Heading south on Belle Terre, at the Town Center light. I’m behind a car stopped at the light in the RIGHT LANE. The light changed, the left turn signal is still lit. That car decided to turn in FRONT of the car in the LEFT LANE, & the in the middle of the intersection make the LEFT TURN on Town Center!!!!! W T F????
Then yesterday at 5:30pm on Old Kings heading N, 3 cars in front of me, all doing around 50. Guy in a lifted SUV decided we all are too slow & speeds passing on the left all 3 of us & then jerks his SUV hard back into the lane to avoid the on coming traffic???
Just WOW
Bob Ziolkowski says
No one ever mentions that opposite, the ones who think they are better than the rest since they go the speed limit, and not 1 mph above it. That can cause problems, too! I was on my motorcycle the other day going north on A1A near Washington Oaks State Park, and I passed a slow car in a legal passing area. Another driver flashed his lights and waved his hands at me – why? And there are others that brake as I pass – why? Let me go around and have a nice day!
Stay at home driver says
Please be careful passing on A1A as new center medians are proving to be hard to see against the sand.
Jay Tomm says
Your NOT allowed to pass driving over he posted speed limit ! Ignored by all it seems, & if the person is driving the speed limit you do NOT need to pass. You want to complain about being flashed? Potentially putting yourself & ME in danger cause your too impatient to WAIT. I bet you were speeding once you got around that car too…..
Fed Up with Drivers says
Palm Coast seems to be inhabited by mostly inconsiderate, poor driving, a-holes. Don’t be believe me, just travel the roads in an automobile. Drivers changing lanes for no reason, crossing 3 lanes because they’re not in the correct lane to make their turn, on their cell phones while driving, on their cells phones at traffic lights, blowing through crosswalks endangering bikers and pedestrians. The list can go on and on. FCSO and Flagler Police should be enabled and empowered to start pulling people over for unsafe driving and issuing a $50 irrefutable fine. Also, there should be more training and instruction before initially issuing someone a license to drive.
Also…if you’re not passing other cars and/or driving 78mph and up, stay out of the passing lane on I-95.
Kyla Towne says
Where’s the driver of the Chevy? Shouldn’t they be in trouble?