15-Year-Old Bicyclist Dies After Being Struck by 2 Cars in DeLand

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 13, 2020

A community in DeLand was left in mourning after a fatal bicycle accident occurred towards the end of October and resulted in the death of a 15-year-old. The reports from the Florida Highway Patrol indicated that the incident took place sometime during the night, likely around 10:00 p.m. At this time, a car was traveling down the northern lanes of Spring Garden Avenue. The car was in the outermost lane of Spring Garden Avenue and was closing in on the intersection between this road and Euclid Avenue. At the same time, a second car was also traveling down the northern lanes of Spring Garden Avenue and nearing the same intersection. The second car is believed to have been traveling in the inside lane.

Reports from Lt. Kim Montes, spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol, indicated that at the time the two vehicles were nearing the intersection, a 15-year-old child climbed aboard their bicycle in their driveway, located at 1100 West Euclid Avenue. The young person then began to ride their bicycle out of their driveway and towards the intersection of Euclid and Spring Garden. At this time of night, it is fully dark in Central Florida, and the reports did not indicate whether or not the 15-year-old had any lights on their bicycle. We are also waiting for information regarding the intersection itself and its pedestrian/biker safety features.

The 15-year-old reached the intersection of the two streets and attempted to drive their bike across Spring Garden Avenue. It was at this time that the first car, traveling in the outside lane, reached the intersection. The car struck the cyclist before either the biker or the driver of the car could redirect their trajectory, and the crash caused the biker to fall into the inside lanes. The second car reached this area immediately afterwards and, like the first, was not able to avoid the cyclist. The 15-year-old was struck by the undercarriage of the second car, suffering from fatal injuries as a result.

When paramedics and EMTs reached the crash site, there was nothing they could do for the young person and they were declared dead at the scene of the crash.

The incident remains under investigation.

Sources:

• 15-year-old boy riding bike struck by 2 cars, killed in DeLand

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.