Susan Lantz, a 62-year-old resident of St. Augustine, was killed Sunday morning (Feb. 22) as she rode her bicycle on State Road A1A just north of Crescent Beach, the Florida Highway Patrol reports.
Lantz was riding north at 9 a.m., and had just passed East Magnolia Avenue. Before the wreck she was riding on the shoulder. John Gongola, a 62-year-old resident of Elkton, was driving his 2005 Toyota Corolla in the same direction.
“For reasons under investigation,” FHP’s report states, Lantz “turned in a northwest direction into the northbound lane” and into the path of Gongola’s Toyota. Gongola treid to take evasive action, breaking and steering to the left. But the front of the Toyota collided with the bicycle, throwing Lantz to the ground.
The FHP report does not state whether Lantz was wearing a helmet. She was taken to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine. Gongola was not injured. The Toyota sustained $3,000 in damages. Traffic on State Road A1A in both directions was closed from 9:02 a.m. to 10:52 a.m. as FHP investigated the scene.
SW says
So sad. RIP
David B. says
I have rode on A1A many times, and in many parts of the rode, they have no shoulder or bike lanes.
It is time to bring A1A to a better safety standards. Many bicyclist use that rode because of the scenery. So sad that this happened. R.I.P.
cm says
sad for both parties. Not only will this family suffer the loss of a loved one, but the driver will have to live with this for the rest of his life. I have had, on several occasions, has bicyclist ride into my lane and had to either slam on the breaks or swerve. Just as drivers need to be vigilant about their surroundings, so do all individuals using the rode. RIP and prayers for the family,