Last Updated: 11:41 a.m. Thursday
Daniel Castilloveiti, a 34-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s B Section, was seriously injured when he rear-ended his motorcycle into a Volkswagen bus on I-95 early Wednesday morning.
Eight hours later on Matanzas Woods Parkway, Mark Radcliff, 56, of Palm Coast’s F Section, suffered fatal injuries when a Matanzas Woods High School student in a vehicle pulled out directly in front of Radcliff’s motorcycle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Zachary Kelly, 17, was driving a 2005 Chevy Impala and making a left turn exiting the high school to travel west on Matanzas Woods Parkway, according to the FHP report on the crash. Radcliffe was traveling east on Matanzas Woods Parkway. Radcliffe’s 2005 Honda collided with the left side of the Chevy.
Radcliff’s was the third motorcycle fatality on Flagler-Palm Coast roads so far this year–the only three traffic fatalities of the year.
Radcliff was bleeding from the head and unconscious immediately after the crash, and those who first tended to him reported to the 911 dispatcher that they thought he had been killed. Radcliff was then briefly conscious but his breathing was labored. Trauma One, the emergency helicopter, was launched eight minutes after the crash was reported, and was due to pick up the patient from one of the Matanzas playing fields. But FHP says he was taken to AdventHealth in Palm Coast.
At 4:26 p.m., dispatchers were told that Radcliffe had died at the hospital. Charges are pending in the crash.
Earlier that morning in a separate incident, Castilloveiti was riding a 2015 Suzuki motorcycle, riding south just past mile marker 287 near the weigh station. Mitch Mentor, 61, of Palm Coast, was driving the 1972 Volkswagen bus south. Skid and gouge marks in the pavement indicate the impact area near the entrance to the weigh station, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash.
Castilloveiti was wearing a helmet, but the helmet cracked. He suffered head trauma. Trauma One, an emergency helicopter, was requested but not dispatched, citing weather (Flagler County’s emergency helicopter was not to go on duty until 8 a.m.) Flagler County Fire Rescue ended up transporting Castilloveiti by ground to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach.
Mentor was not injured. He wasn’t sure what had hit him before realizing what had taken place.
The crash was reported to 911 dispatchers at 6:47 a.m., according to 911 notes. The motorcyclist was reported to have clipped the van and spun out of control. Initially he was not believed to have survived. One caller reported that a motorcyclist “flew past her reckless” immediately before the crash.
The Matanzas Woods crash was reported at At 2:32 p.m. right outside of Matanzas High School.
Flagler County’s own Fire Flight emergency helicopter wasn’t called in because it went out of medical service due to a medical emergency: a firefighter-paramedic took ill today, and rather than take his ambulance out of service, Fire Flight’s flight medic was transferred to the ambulance to keep that going. “We can’t have a down truck,” Fire Chief Don Petito said. “It’s like playing the odds, we know them ambulance is going to be getting the calls all day long,” as opposed to Fire Flight, whose calls are less frequent. Fire Flight is still in service for fire and police calls.
FHP arrived at the scene at 3 p.m. Matanzas Woods Parkway was to be shut down west of Old Kings Road and and next to the high school until FHP had completed its investigation this afternoon. The scene was cleared at 5:20 p.m.
In both crashes, Flagler County Fire Rescue, the Palm Coast Fire Department and the Palm Coast Fire Police responded, as did the sheriff’s office.
jim says
Hey Chief can’t you backfill the position w/ somebody on overtime instead of putting fire flight out of service?
Coyote says
Is it just me, or does the Flagler County emergency helicopter service seem to be ‘out of service’ in an inordinate amount of the recently-reported accidents?
Are you kidding? says
Are you kidding me about Flagler County? “Flagler County’s emergency helicopter was not to go on duty until 8 a.m.” So everyone hear this: Please plan your accidents to fit into our schedule or else…well, you might die waiting.
CAN'TFOOLME says
The emergency helicopter seems to be of little use to so many who critically need it. Can’t money be found to fund a back-up and another pilot here in Flagler. It’s frightening to know that in a time of dire need that help might not be available. I’m so saddened to hear about the two motorcyclists and hope they pull through.
Concerned Citizen says
Fire Flights primary mission is Fire Supression. Actually medivac and LEO assists are secondary. You have to have a flight medic for medivac but generally they fly solo on fire calls.
Out of Sevice says
However Trauma One didn’t land either. It was canceled.
Shark says
Gee – I wonbder how fast he was going ???????????????????
Nanci M Whitley says
WOW! Just complaints about the fire department? No “thoughts and prayers” for the victims?
Get a grip says
Right… cause thoughts and PRAYERS have worked so far..
tulip says
People can send thoughts and prayers to the victims families but that doesn’t solve anything.Thoughts and action need to be seriously considered by the BOCC as to solving the Med flight crisis. Living with “if you have a life threatening situation between 7:30 pm and 7:30 am, there is no quick help so consider yourself dead.” is a lousy and insecure thought to live with. I wrote 7:30 because it takes time to assess the patient and get the helicopter there.
For some reason the BOCC has been tossing aside this med flight issue for a long time and I have no idea why,. They seem to get their crappy buildings purchased and take care of the developers pretty quick.
Cindy says
I agree with you. It never seems to be available when needed.
Willy Boy says
More Dust Off’s, fewer bikes.
Roberto 44 says
Less trees and more service.
Pam Radcliff Schneider says
Mark Radcliff was my brother. No matter how this accident happened our hearts are broken. Mark was a good son, a good brother, a good husband, a good father and a good grandpa. His life was needlessly cut short in a tragic accident.
Ellen Roberts says
Condolences on your brothets passing. If there isnt a red light or an officer directing traffic, these students dont need to make left turns. Too many people cant judge the traffic situation when they have vehicles comung from both directions. And they dont understand the term, wait til the coast is cleared.
Fuggetaboutit says
Bikers, please wear a helmet
Lawrence Cuccurullo says
Slow down and wear a helmet.
Me says
Drivers please look twice.
David Hein says
Pam, I am so saddened and sorry to hear about Marks passing. I met Mark and Connie while we stayed a Bulow RV Park. We are from Michigan and he and I always kidded each other about the Ohio State and University of Michigan rivalry. Mark always wanted me to make the big O sign with my arms for Ohio. I said I would never do that. But today with a tear in my eye and a sadness in my Heart I will do one for Mark in Heaven. RIP peace Mark I will alway remember you and your laugh. Please let Connie know how sorry my wife and I are for her loss. Mark was a great guy.