DeLand motorcyclist, 68, killed on the eve of Bike Week after being struck by an 18-year-old motorist in a car in DeLand

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DELAND -- Bike Week 2011 hadn't yet started and already a motorcyclist was killed Thursday night when his Harley Davidson was struck by an 18-year-old motorist in a four-door Mercury that tried crossing over several lanes on Woodland Boulevard, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The accident occurred just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday on North Woodland at Robinhood Drive, less than five hours from the official start of Bike Week which runs through March 13, when as many as a half million bikers are expected in Volusia County, the majority in Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. DeLand, Port Orange, South Daytona, Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill and New Smyrna Beach also are expected to see a lot of motorcycle traffic.

John Henshaw, 68, of DeLand, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7:35 p.m. accident, after his 1985 Harley-Davidson was struck by the 1999 Mercury car driven by 18-year-old Timothy Ackley of DeLand.

Troopers said Henshaw was not wearing a helmet, but dis not say whether it would have mattered. The young driver was transported to a local hospital for unspecified injuries. A passenger in the car, 16-year-old Jarred Hill of DeLand, did not require hospitalization

Ackley was west on Robinhood when he tries to cross over onto Woodland and directly into the path of the biker, who was northbound on Woodland, troopers said.

No charges were filed, but an investigation in ongoing, the highway patrol said.