After going more than three months without a road fatality, Flagler County roads were the site of two crashes causing the death of three people within hours early Sunday morning–a motorcycle crash in Flagler Beach and a car crash on County Road 304.
In the first incident, a 54-year-old Palm Coast man riding his motorcycle south on State Road A1A in Flagler Beach was killed shortly after midnight this morning (March 2) when he struck the median on the narrow, sparsely-lit two-lane road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the motorcycle “attempted to overtake an SUV on the left side. The front wheel of the motorcycle then struck the raised concrete center median.”
The motorcycle overturned several times, ejecting the driver. The motorcycle–its make was not identified in the report–ended in the northbound lane of A1A. “The driver came to final rest in the center median north of the motorcycle and was pronounced deceased on the scene,” the report states. The motorcyclist, whose identity FHP has not released, was wearing a helmet.
A1A’s travel lanes in that area are very narrow. The concrete median and french drains the Department of Transportation built when A1A was last reconstructed were added at the end of 2019. The median-divided segment of road reopened in December 2019. The median starts at South 9th and stretches to South 22nd.
There was little evidence of a crash at the scene at sunup this morning, other than an orange traffic cone placed on the concrete, where the median begins at South Street, and in the sandy median, where the victim lost his life, an errant surgical glove, a white shirt, and some coiled electrical wires that may have been loosened from the motorcycle.
There are street lights on A1A but they’re simmer than standard street lights so as not to disorient sea turtles. Bike Week started in Daytona Beach on Friday, running through March 9. If it is Bike Week related, the fatality would be the first of this year’s event in Volusia or Flagler counties. It was the first road fatality in Flagler Beach since 2023.
The second crash took place at 4:25 a.m. An 18-year-old man was driving a sedan west on CR304, west of U.S. 1, with a 17-year-old passenger from Pierson. According to FHP, the car, for unknown reasons, drifted across the eastbound lane and onto the left shoulder, striking the end of a concrete bridge railing. The driver and the passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene by Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedics. The passenger, a boy, was not wearing a seat belt. The driver was, according to FHP. Next of kin had not been informed of the crash by the time FHP released its initial report.
The three road fatalities from the two crashes are the first this year in Flagler County. The county had 17 road fatalities last year, according to FHP, including three motorcyclists.
Dakota Brooks says
So sad. Peace to his family.
Michael Van Buren says
Looking at the picture, I have to wonder if that median is even MUTCD compliant or not? Maybe if it was painted and had signage (R4-7 and an OM1-1) might have given the rider advanced warning that the median was there.
Let it burn says
the global embarrassment may shut down the DoT on a whim. Anything for his daddy Putin. Agent Krasnov committed treason!
S. Peters says
There should be road reflectors on that concrete median. With minimal lighting in that area, wouldn’t it make sense to put road reflectors on the median?
HayRide says
Ya got to remember there is always half completed construction during every bikeweek function. How about the uneven pavement on Royal Palm and US1, or years ago the truck size pot holes at the Hess Station on US1, and the owner claimed it was the responsibility of the county, but it was on his property. That guy was a price of work. Driving thru Daytona they always seemed to have some road dug up. With out of towners traveling, for these events you’d think they would think more about safety . But yearcafter year there was alway a road torn up, town officials would tell ya the funding needed to be used in certain times or loose it.
JimboXYZ says
Wow, they put those medians in, lowered the speed limit to 25 mph and someone still found a way to male this possible ?
Chris Goodgellow says
They have installed new medians further north on A1A Butler Beach and Varn Park. Last week while coming home towing my kayak trailer a car attempted to pass me at the varn park one. People are not familiar with them being there yet and they are not lighted. Accident waiting to happen!
LeeVC says
May all 3 of them Rest in Peace and may their families find some comfort…especially over the next few weeks.
We lost our son in January and it is truly the most painful thing I have ever experienced…I wish the family members peace…and I believe they will all be reunited again.
Land of no turn signals says says
Dim lights on A1A,Turtles at fault.
JPM Flagler says
Maybe we should consider making A1A a NO PASSING zone. There is little room for error there. RIP to all who died today. My husband, an avid motorcycle rider and motor cross racer of over 60 years finally sold his bike stating that it is not safe riding out there unless you go west of Bunnell.
PeachesMcGee says
The motorcyclist, being from PC, should know that A1A in FB is virtually all no-passing and construction zones.
Sadly, this rider couldn’t maintain his patience and paid the ultimate price.
FlaglerLive says
A1A in that entire stretch is a no-passing zone.
JimboXYZ says
The only passing zone that I’m aware of any more, is at the Volusia & Flagler County line for A1A. The speed limit gets to 55 mph & there is a line of palm bushes on the East (northbound side). I know I wouldn’t attempt it but a younger motorist ? Before those road island barriers, Flagler County has always had the threat of the one motorist that attempts multi-car passes on A1A. I sold a motorcycle years ago and read that months later that buyer was attempting a multi car pass on A1A. He did well, except the last vehicle he was passing was a mini-van that was turning left. So the motorcycle rider t-boned the mini-van at speed. Fortunately the van had a glass window on that side and he survived going thru the window instead of hitting the reinforced sheet metal section. That was sometime around 1991/1992 ? But back to this crash, sometimes the traffic safety measures kill instead of save lives. How many have died for the round-abouts on US-1 ? It’s a no win really ? The round-abouts are built because of a fatality, there’s always one/a few that astonishes & defeats traffic safety measures. The barrier road islands were built to protect pedestrians & residents from the one’s that can’t operate their vehicles to the proper driving standards. Can’t save them all from themselves.
yvette leslie says
LeeVC I am TRULY sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the ultimate loss of a child, every other type I have experienced, and it is does leave an emptiness. My prayers is your family, as well as the families of these 3 souls will find comfort in our Creator, who loves and is there to comfort. Keep doing what you are doing; reaching out and sharing kind words, definitely one of the steps to healing.
Blessings,
Atwp says
Sad, hope this isn’t the beginning of a deadly motorcycle week.
Crystal Lang says
I don’t go to the beach much maybe a few times a year and definitely NOT in the summer months and I just thought that A1A is a no passing street. I seriously don’t remember being able to pass anyone on A1A it looks like one lane each way! Anyway so sad to hear about this something that could have been avoided. RIP prayers for the family.
Billy says
Yep – Blame it on the median !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sam says
I guess staly would rather have his deputies patrolling I95 instead of Palm Coasts local roads !!!
Pat Stote says
So true in most accidents. Everybody is in a rush and that the few little seconds often takes their life and others as well.
May these three RIP and may all of us have a little more patience while driving.
Kim says
I live on the south side of Flagler Beach on A1A, and please believe me when I tell you there are cars passing there, some going over 60 mph every.single.day. There are no medians there, but please, pedestrians, take extreme care crossing on that stretch of road. Requests for lowering the speed limit from 45 and speed enforcement have gone unanswered and unheeded. Somehow they made that happen on the north end of town.
An enforced 25 mph speed limit for all of Flagler Beach would be great for our citizens’ safety.
Skibum says
You are exactly right about the need for reflectors on not only those concrete abutments on A1A, but a whole host of other similar roads in our area. But certainly on A1a, where the lighting is minimal at best, or not at all in some places, creating a hazard to boneheads who might think it is a good idea to try to pass another vehicle on that stretch of road. But I have to wonder, if the poor man who lost his life attempting such a foolish move was a local as has been reported, one would think he would have been aware of that fact before he tried tempting fate with that very dangerous maneuver which ended up costing him his life.
john says
Why don’t those cement media’s have flashing lights on them so drivers can see them at night? I think that would afford accidents and even deaths.
CED says
So sad, so young
Michael Van Buren says
No, just saying better visibility might have prevented this. Most other medians have the above.
Kennedey says
My uncle underestimated the length of the time he had. He was in no way reckless. He’s been riding his whole life and always safe. It was a simple mistake.
To many road hazards says
Yes bike week. Be careful of road construction.Codys Corner round about is over a year into construction and still an over budget nightmare with unmarked islands in the road(also on Rt 11 in Bunnell) and construction that is not yet near completion
BE CAREFUL ON THE BIKE ROADS IN THE COUNTY
Common sense says
Yea definitely the center medians , and lack of reflectors fault. Definitely not the 2 shots , 6 beers , cell phone connected to bike , music , and gang mentality from other bikers that may or may not have been with him. I get it the road is terribly designed , but the negligence of the bike rider who lives in the area is what caused this unfortunate accident. I have been in some close calls over the years of riding. 85% do to my own carelessness. This week gives licenses to generally normal hard working people to be complete morons.
JD says
Nothing like turning 3 tragedies into something political. Pull your head out…
Common Sense says
Why because if you are riding / driving responsibly theres no need for them. Theres enough lights flashing , blinking etc on A1A. While this was an unfortunate event it was caused by the negligence of the rider.
Denali says
You have cited reflector colors and signage design requirements but not the requirements as to where they are required. Nice to tell us what a stop sign should look like but now tell us where it is required by the standard.
And personally, I doubt any signs would have helped as the rider ignored the 25 mph speed limit sign. Obvious case of FAFO.
HayRide says
It involves a bike so you think it’s “gang” related, get your facts straight, guaranteed you don’t ride do you?
Common Sense says
The road was originally built for the tourist. Its a scenic route that now is more often used by bjg trucks and fast cars rather the relaxed scenic views.
Common Sense says
Sure do , since i was 6 on my Honda CT70. Currently ride a 04 CBR , have owned many of bikes over the years. Its called gang mentality , and its a particular type of behavior that manifest in large groups of people “gangs”
Common Sense says
Yea since i was 6 on my Honda CT70. gang mentality is a figure of speech that describes a particular behavior that manifest when large groups of people are together “gang”
Bikers , soccer fans in Europe , concert goers etc… Generally as noted you see hard working people acting like morons.