Last Updated: Nov. 23
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash with a vehicle at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and Royal Palms Parkway in Palm Coast in early evening Sunday.
The crash took place a little after 6 p.m., involving a Toyota Avalon and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The motorcyclist, Anthony Michael Menard, 31, of Blyth Place in Palm Coast, was trauma-evacuated by Flagler County Fire Rescue ambulance to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach. The driver, Steven Lopez, 33, and three passengers in the Toyota, who remained in the vehicle in the early part of the investigation, were not hurt.
The crash was caused by Lopez’s inattention and failure to yield the right of way to Menard, according to a Florida Highway Patrol investigation. Lopez was also driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license and had no proof of insurance.
According to the FHP investigation, Lopez was driving west on Royal Palms Parkway. Menard was motorcycling east. Lopez was crossing Belle Terre to make a left turn to go south as Menard was going straight–and had the right of way. As Lopez turned left, the Toyota’s driver-side front crashed against Menard’s motorcycle. The motorcycle was catapulted past the road to just behind a guardrail into the southeast corner of the intersection. The Toyota stopped almost in the center of the intersection after the crash, facing southwest. The Toyota’s front driver-side was heavily damaged by the impact.
Another motorcycle, undamaged, was parked a few feet down from the crash site on the east side of Royal Palms–a witness or a companion rider with the victim.
Lopez had a green light, but no green arrow–meaning that he had to yield to oncoming traffic. Lopez told an investigator that he did not see Menard on his motorcycle coming his way. He was cited for driving on a revoked license, cited with a $166 ticket for failing to yield, and a $116 fine for failure to produce insurance.
“There was no one else identified as a patient at that scene,” Palm Coast Fire Department Battalion Chief Kyle Berryhill, who was at the scene shortly after the crash, said. Flagler County Rescue 92 and Palm Coast Fire Department Engine 25 were the responders. “They called a trauma alert very quickly, and they had him fully immobilized and in the back of a rescue so fast, which is one of the things we’re trying to do in a trauma situation,” Berryhill said.
The two northbound lanes on Belle Terre were reduced to one, backing up traffic at one point almost to Easthampton Boulevard. Southbound traffic was not hampered, nor was lighter traffic on Royal Palms. The Palm Coast Fire Police was regulating the flow. The scene was cleared shortly after 7:30 p.m.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue responded ahead of FHP, which took over the investigation.
E. Hoffa says
That section of Belle Terre if Very Dangerous at night because of the lack of street lights and high traffic Count! Street lights should have been installed years ago!
Justin Case says
You must be reading the braille version of the article. I can clearly see traffic lights in the photo.
Concerned Citizen says
I hope that the driver of the bike recovers from his injuries.
Here lately I have seen a lot of disregard of traffic laws by both bikers and vehicle drivers. And it needs to stop. Respect and patience for your fellow motorist goes a long ways in keeping our roads safe. And making sure everyone gets home OK.
For Bikers.
I cannot understand why you insist on cutting up the white lines to get thru traffic. Do those few seconds you gain by being impatient and rude really help you get somewhere quicker? And what about all this weaving in and out of traffic with no signal and passing in no passing zones. Or my new favorite. Stopping your bike and putting it right on my bumper. Are you special? Do the rules of the road not apply on motorcycle drivers? All the time we see look out for bikers. And law suit hungry lawyers. Yet most of the infractions I see come from bikers. And there is zero traffic enforcement from FCSO.
For Motorists.
I see so many on cell phones all the time. You run stop signs and lights. And speed up and slow down. And when you aren’t on a phone the aggressive driving is ridiculous. That tail gaiting and flashing your lights when you don’t agree with a complient driver isn’t working btw. I value my license and cheap insurance. And again I see very little traffic enforcement from FCSO these days. Unless it’s a ridiculous costume on the side of the road.
Years ago before the phone law went into effect my company came up with a zero tolerance policy for aggressive/distracted driving. If you are the cause of an accident and aggresive/distracted while on the clock you are fired immediatley. No questions asked. This has made me learn to be a better driver. And I carry it over when not working. The phone, rude behavior and other distractions don’t have a place on the road.
It boils down to being kind and respectful to each other. And maybe a little more traffic enforcement from FCSO to let others know folks are watching.
Concerned Local says
I completely agree to all of this! I have seen so many young drivers, and surprisingly some elderly, drive while texting, or playing with MapQuest. From word of mouth, several locals think the cameras don’t work, and you will not get a ticket anymore sent by mail, so in turn red light get ran constantly. I’m not sure, but where I am from you also stop fully at a red light, before making that right hand on red turn. Some folk are caught up in the rush of whatever, and this left, right, left code we were taught goes out the window. FCSO, really does need to crack down on the careless driving, and even start ticketing for people who think their car came w/o a blinker. Road rules 101.
Eny says
Just curious as why motorcycle drivers are not mandated to carry insurance for collision and liability in Florida? Also, why aren’t they mandated and inforced to wear a helmet while driving, or as passengers on a motorcycle? Motorcycles are so much more dangerous than cars and they are horrible for noise control.
Hope all involved in the accident are well.
Lizette says
Are you kidding me? They are horrible for noice control? What world are you living in? Did you not know that loud pipes saves lives?
Also, thank God Anthony was in FACT wearing a helmet and carrying insurance. So your comment here is irrelevant.