DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Two pedestrians who were crossing South Atlantic Avenue when they hesitated then continued trying to cross after reaching the median and were struck by a Harley-Davidson, resulting in critical injuries to them as well as the biker and a passenger Saturday night, Daytona Beach Shores police reported.
Police responded to the 8 p.m. wreck in thee 3100 block of South Atlantic Avenue. The passenger of the motorcycle was airlifted to Halifax Medical Center. The operator of the motorcycle and the two pedestrians were transported to Halifax Medical Center by EVAC ambulance.
Here is a synopsis of what happened as described by police: According to witnesses, motorcycle was northbound on South Atlantic Avenue when two pedestrians were crossing the roadway west to east. The pedestrians hesitated once they reached the center turning lane. The pedestrians then continued their street crossing. That was when the Harley struck both pedestrians. The force of the impact caused the Harley rider to lose control and crash into a Chevrolet SUV that was stopped in the parking lot of the Daytona Seabreeze, 3125 South Atlantic Ave. The SUV had been waiting for traffic to clear before turning onto South Atlantic Avenue. The motorcycle continued traveling approximately 20 more feet northbound before coming to a stop in some shrubbery.
Police didn't indicate if the Harley operator and his passenger were wearing helmets.
The accident is under investigation by the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public
Safety.
Heading into the midnight hour there had been one reported fatality during the four-day Biketoberfest that began Thursday and ends Sunday: A woman four to five months pregnant on the back of a bike was killed in a crash early Saturday in Daytona Beach.