Nicholas A. Ceraldi, a 50-year-old resident of Firethorn Lane in Palm Coast, was killed shortly after midnight this morning when the motorcycle he was driving struck two deer on his street.
The crash was reported 40 minutes after midnight. Ceraldi was traveling east on Firethorn, toward his home, when he struck the deer. He was severely injured at the scene, where he was found in front of 46 Firethorn Lane, and was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where he died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
An emergency helicopter had been placed on standby but later cancelled. Flagler County Sheriff’s units were first on the scene, along with the Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue, one of whose ambulances transported Ceraldi to the hospital. Firethorn Lane was closed for two hours as FHP’s troopers investigated. FHP’s report states that Ceraldi was not wearing a helmet. (Florida law does not require adult motorcyclists to wear a helmet.)
Ceraldi had been from New York and had family out of state. The family received notification a few hours after the crash.
One or both deer that were struck were injured and put down by deputies at the scene. One of them may already have been killed in the collision.
According to Florida Highway Patrol data, this morning’s crash was the 23rd resulting in a fatality this year, with a total of 26 fatalities, most of them occurring on state and national roads–A1A, 100, U.S. 1, I-95. Ceraldi’s death is the seventh involving a motorcyclist this year.
The number of fatal crashes had been declining steadily in Florida and the united States until around 2015, when it started rising again. The rise has been led significantly by a spike in motorcyclists’ road deaths, which have increased 140 percent since 1994, while fatalities of car or truck drivers and passengers have fallen 10 and 42 percent.
Gina Weiss says
My deepest sympathy to the family, I honestly don’t know this no helmet whatever you want to call it can even exist in any state. And along with the high speed that these motorcylist travel , just take a small bump from another vehicle to send a cyclist flying. I hear them late at night at a speeding down Belle Terre, just a small bump or an animal crossing the road can cause fatalities, just make sense at least with a helmet a cyclist may have a chance.
Jenn says
Are you f*cken kidding me? …please unless you know this man. Which I DID for 35 years! …please don’t judge any helmet or speed therioes. He was good…he was safe! …dont take much for 2 DEER …let alone 1 to take out a CAR…LET ALONE a motorcycle
Gina Weiss says
Jenn: No I’m not e ffin kidding you, no one is judging this man number one, if you read my comment of my deepest sympathy, I happen to ride myself and I’m a RN, according to YOU NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO MAKE A BLANKET COMMENT STATEMENT FOR PEOPLE’S SAFETY! Why turn people’s words into something they are not, DON’T PUT WORDS INTO PEOPLE’S MOUTHS, IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU DEFINE MY COMMENT!
Mike says
This is just terrible. He was an amazing man. A friend since childhood…I’m at a complete loss for words right now…
pete says
My heart goes out to the family. My God Bless and be with them.
pete says
May God Bless and be with them
Frank says
Displaced wildlife due to man invading their woodland. Put this on the developers.
Sam says
Deer are everywhere no matter the woods being taken down. God rest his soul.
Accidents happen. God needed another angel
Prayers to his family
Dennis C Rathsam says
Put it on STUFF EM IN ALVIN, the mayor from hell!!!!
susan jones says
Prayers to the family. just so sad
Jimbo99 says
From the Google Maps street view, quite a few new constructions on that street. Probably wooded lots that used to be the deer’s home. New growth plans of Flagler County is really going to drive the wild animals out and towards the streets. Another perfect example is Belle Terre where the townhome development was approved North of Indian Trails area and those schools. The lots were leveled to dirt. Go by at about the same hour this accident occurred & you’ll see the deer looking for the forestry that was their wooded home. They’ll be looking for food as well. Even in a car/truck, just can’t drive thru at speed limits. Even where I am in P-Section, the new construction and the families that have moved in, children everywhere. And they kids think intersections are play zones. Take it slower & be more careful. I’ve also seen more wildlife on FL-100, where the construction of Costco & other commercial development is happening.
Local says
Where do you live? Did it used to be a wooded lot where deer lived? Deer do not live on” wooded lots” they live in bigger tracts of woods. They travel through where the woods used to be (where YOUR house is now)to search for food. I live in the country on a piece of property with many trees and see less deer every year. Hunters are killing them for sport by the thousands. Deer escape these hunting areas during hunting season every year. Don’t worry so much about development….the hunters will take care of the deer way before development.
Jimbo99 says
Fact is that I drove around midnight thru Belle Terre where the last fire station is located, the land had already been cleared for the townhomes. I counted 1/2 a dozen deer standing in that bulldozed to dirt area. The other side of I-95 is no different near Matanzas High School where this deer accident occurred. I can count at least 25 new duplexes around Pritchard in this residential area. More being built. There is a wooded area between this residential & I-95 where deer and many other wildlife call their home/territory. hey plan on building another overpass/underpass situation to connect Whiteview Parkway West of I-95 to Old Kings Road on the East side of I-95. There are plenty of deer in those wooded areas as well.
It’s not uncommon to see deer on I-95 at night grazing on either side North & South. I have also seen displaced deer where Costco land was flattened to dirt on FL-100 West of I-95. East of I-95, they are building residential on that side of I-95 as well. Those approving this growth need to own that this is not “Saving the Planet”. Where the deer are, is everything that was preserved natural for even limited development. Palm Coast is filling in with leakage from St Johns & Volusia counties.
More planned growth is approved for everything from the school on Town Center Blvd to the bike path/trail. All of that is swamp land, canals & wooded area. Another project, the Tennis center expansion. Take you pic, the roads aren’t getting any wider & the residential is for hundreds & thousands of occupancy growth for duplexes, single homes on smaller 50 foot frontal lots & apartment complexes. All of it is in the most heavily wooded areas . With the duplexes that went in around my home in 2021, there are no vacant lots until you get to the end of the street at one end I’m at the midpoint of that street. Then you are on Pritchard & guess what ? They are building a gated community East on it. All of that was wooded areas for wildlife that has been displaced. The prices are unaffordably absurd at $ 399+K for 1,750-1,87 SQFT. All that traffic is going to ultimately end up on Belle Terre. Only way out of here is to take Pritchard West to Belle Terre or loop around East where Pritchard becomes Whiteview Parkway. When the flyover for Whiteview happens for I-95, there’s going to be another exit ramp for I-95 built there. All of that wooded area will be paved asphalt & more housing or even some commercial development for gas stations & fast food. How can we ever thank the real estate mayor Alfin enough for this ? Local government passed their own raises & this new development is supposed to pay for it, yet they can’t agree & collect impact fees to pay for any of it. FCSO wants more budget for the crime that’s going to escalate from the population growth. No denying it, the stats indicate that so many will be relatively law abiding and there will be those that are just outright criminal.
“New gated community off Pritchard Drive in the P-section features 45 single-family homes and will later add 96 condos.”
https://americanvillage.us/sales-of-new-single-family-homes.html
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN says
Jimboo: I agree with you 150 % if anyone can’t see this inapprehensible overgrowth they have their eyes closed and many animals, not just deer are displaced. Those money hungry seated officials and developers do not care about people’s quality of life, the environment or wildlife which is why they are getting voted out and will continue to get voted out, the power is in the hands of the people, not theirs just remember that.
R says
Your exactly right this town wasn’t overpopulated and has become no longer the beautiful place it use. To be. The politicians just care about $$$$$ not the impact a town that used to be tranquil and a safe haven for these poor animals has done nothing but push them into fighting to live which every population we once had which was a really special part of living here as they bothered no one & now it’s simply about Finacial greed and over population also driving the crime rate to unbelievable numbers and thee so not even a place in this county to call to actually help injured animals as I have traveled into St. John’s county years ago when I was able to drive to save several because unfortunately our sheriff s have no option but to put them down even if they can be rehabilitated simply because there are no means in Flagler county to call any animal rehab for help and the sheriffs only option which I understand as no animal should suffer especially after being struck by a car they have to put them out of their suffering as difficult as it used to be for me to understand esp if it’s a broken leg that can be repaired the only one to blame is Flagler County for not having a facility for the beautiful wildlife that is probably why a lot of the first people that chose to live here was a factor and the peacefulness which was why my parents moved here and I truly had such wonderful memories when I first moved here with so much wooded areas between homes because people purchased extra lots to be surrounded by nature. Sadly more builders did the same that could afford to wait a few decades to make a fortune as the real estate has become unbelievably outrageous especially for Florida. Which is hard for single elderly who once weee the baby boomers originally and sadly fall victim to the increasing economy who can’t afford to even live their lives in these new facilities which are almost $3000 a month their building which is great but sad for disabled and elderly people who are struggling to make it month to month. It can happen to anyone especially if you have no family & there truly is no help here for them. If anyone does find a animal injured that can be saved there are several places if you look it up online and I believe they will come to pick it up and try to help I believe there just outside of St Augustine. I’m so saddened to hear about this man and my heart breaks for his family. I’m in no way minimizing this precious souls death nor the sadness I feel for his family and friends. It’s just there’s so much fault with this county they don’t care about what their actions have serious consequences to all aspect of their overbuilding for Finacial gain. I realize it’s hopeless as they call it progress but at what cost in the long run. I know there is good and bad in everything but this should have been properly thought out especially as these roads like Old Kings there’s no room for expansion and no sidewalks for children & just people in general in alot of sections. Yet cars fly down these roads like it’s as freeway sadly when there’s barely enough room especially if people have to park o the street which I’m not sure but used to be illegal yet you’ll sink in the swells on most properties if you try to park there’s a lot of roads that they still flood the grass because the swells were still not fixed. God bless everyone & all of our community. Wishing everyone blessings and unity.
jim lang says
Well said R!!
Carol says
My sympathy and prayers for out to his family.
Aj says
Sad, no helmet wow.
The Geode says
Before you “why wasn’t he wearing a helmet” people start your silliness, just know that 1 deer will crush the entire front end of a car (like they did with mine) so I doubt a helmet would have been of much use when hitting 2 of them. It sucks when stuff like this happens especially during the “festive” time of year…
Life changes in an instant
Deborah Coffey says
“Silliness” is denial of proven facts.
Joan Vladenides says
My deepest sympathy to Jane, Sal and their entire family for the loss of their son. I didn’t personally know Nick but am deeply saddened for his parents and siblings. What a wonderful family. What a terrible loss.
Skibum says
This deadly collision occurred on a residential street near my home where the speed limit is either 25 or 30 mph. The report I read doesn’t say if the man killed was speeding or just traveling at the speed limit, so it is unclear if the outcome might have been different had he been wearing a helmet. But the sad fact is that this tragedy shows once again that a deadly collision on a motorcycle, even on a slower speed limit residential street, does happen, and can happen to anyone. Also, to your comment about helmets… helmets are safety devices designed specifically to protect the rider. They are NOT silly, nor are comments pleading with M/C riders to wear them. Despite the lax, dumb law here in FL allowing people to do such a dumb thing as riding without wearing one, nobody can deny the simple truth that if more riders would wear their helmet, more lives would be saved. Nothing will prevent every injury or death for sure, but you stand a far better chance of not being injured or killed if you are wearing a helmet as opposed as NOT wearing one. After having spent more than a quarter century in law enforcement and seeing too much carnage on the streets and highways resulting from all types of auto collisions, I know that safety devices like helmets, like seatbelts, are only beneficial if people make the right decision to use them.
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN says
The Geode: AND you’re talking about silly??? You’re the one who is comparing hitting 2 deer while one is surrounded by a ton of metal in a car and a person on a motorcycle without a helmet. For goodness sake THINK before you call people sarcastic words. In any case to all non helmet riders, we say helmets to try to protect you somewhat not to put you down but you have the freedom to do what you want . Good Luck!
The Geode says
WHO did I call “sarcastic words”? Do you not have comprehension? I didn’t compare anything to anything (self-edit). I was merely saying a helmet wouldn’t have been much help considering the damage a deer can do to a car let alone a human NOT “surrounded by metal” as you so eloquently put it. People are so freaking busy trying to be a contrarian, they can’t comprehend a conversation past one or two words that reach their brain out of context. I suggest you and those other “offense searchers” read what I wrote. I tried to be concise, but you never know…
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN says
Geode : “people start your silliness”, about wearing a helment, you call people silly who are trying to give good safety advice as if they should not give it???? Of course everyone is saddened over this incident which resulted in this man fatality, people are not blaming his death as a result of him for not wearing a helmet, they are just trying to give advice but according to you playing it safe does not matter, who are you to judge that? Seems to me that your ego got in the way and you are the one who does not comprehend what some others are saying and you did compare a car hitting a deer as to a motorcycle, only common sense would tell you that the person in the car has a much better chance!
Karen A says
May he RIP, prayers to his family and friends
John and Linda Zeiss says
Most sincere condolences to Jane, Sal and the entire Ceraldi family. Wonderful people. Our hearts go out to you. So, so sorry. May he rest in peace
Kiwi says
My condolences to the family and his friends. I was wondering what was going on. I herd the police sirens and the ambulance going off and it was late. I said to myself that sound is to close to home and then to read this and learn this is why is saddening. RIP
John Sullivan says
Rest In Peace Nick! You were a loving, caring and devoted father. A friend to all and a helpful hand to many. Most importantly, you were an honorable and well respected United States Marine who proudly served while extracting our Troops from Somalia Africa. Your PTSD had a grasp on you, but your will, determination and drive helped you live a wonderful life. May you look down on your daughter as she gets through this difficult time. Semper Fi!
Liza says
Extremely saddened to hear of this tragic accident. Nicky was taken way too young. I pray for his family, daughter and friends during these very hard times.
Charles "Bub" Robson says
I have worked many a MC crash with deer involved, some with helmets, some not. In all the cases the biker was killed. Prayers for the man’s family, be careful out there.
ASF says
Be careful out there–and, please, people, if you drive a motorcycle, wear a helmet! Even if a crash doesn’t result in death, head injuries are no picnic to deal with!
My sympathies to his family, especially his children. May his memory always be a blessing to them.
pete says
Please Please put it to rest, it’s too bad it happened but it did and he was doing what he enjoyed and went happy. . So put it to sleep and pray for the family.
Alyssa says
I love you so much I know you’re dead but I still hope you find a way to see this. I am so sorry for you dying that way you were almost home. I love you so much! I hope to see you again in heaven. And remember I will always be your ally cat. I love you with all my heart and I had an amazing night with you Friday night. It was my favorite meal. And it was so fun have a fire, roasting marshmallows, trying to figure out what those lights were in the sky, and the possum on the fence. I always loved you picking me up at the bus stop I remember it like it was yesterday. I always had fun with you and you tried so hard to make sure me, mom, and Kyra had everything we needed and wanted. I know there was tough time in yours and mom’s relationship but you tried your hardest to make it work. I was so excited to see you Friday for the fist thing sense the fight but I was thinking about you all the time. Remember when we got back from sea world for my birthday and Kyra got COVID and mom did but you and I never did and so we weren’t going to do anything on my birthday and then you took me shopping 🛍️ I had SO much fun that day. I had so much fun at sea world, destin, key west where we went camping it was so much fun. And me and Tyler went down today were you had crashed and he explained were you crashed like were your bike went and landed and were you went and landed it was so so sad seeing your blood on the ground but the house you crashed in front of set up a cross and candles and it was so beautiful like mom. And I LOVED the Christmas decorations that you did yesterday I love Christmas 🎄 but I wish you were here still. But god always has a place for everyone. I still can’t believe you’re gone I just want to wake up and I ALL be a dream. I love you very much. And I really hope we can come to your funeral. I love you and I always will.
Love, Alyssa Crawford
Done on Sunday Dec 4th at 11:17pm
Ingrid says
Alyssa , you and Nick were always very close.You were his little buddy. And always his Ally -Cat…He left behind good memories for you to Cherish always..
I knew too him as a good man , Who always gave the best. Was there for anyone who needed help… and had a heart bigger than himself..He had the determination to always strive to a better man..His caring, kindness, and generosity,along with his big smile ,warm hugs and outgoing personality , will be remembered by all who knew him. Nick , will be missed terribly , Nick will be missed by all who knew and loved him I’m sure…and by all whose lives he may have touched
And although, Nick has been taken from us, way too soon, Heaven just gained one heck of an angel…… As God only takes the Best!
Rest in comfort and Peace, Nick!❤️